1 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: It is. This is the Miller LIGHTE Cowboys Hour, supported 2 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: by Albertson and Omni Hotels and Resources. Brought to you 3 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:21,440 Speaker 1: by Miller Light, the only beer of the Cowboys. It's Millerton, 4 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: Albertson's and Tom Thumb, the official supermarket and pharmacy of 5 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: the Dallas Cowboys. Choose VA Veterans get the benefits you've burned. 6 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: Visit Choose dot ba dot com and by Geico fifteen 7 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 1: minutes could save you fifteen percenter more on car and shirts. 8 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: Now your hosts, Shannon Gross and Brad shan And welcome 9 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: everyone to this week's Miller LTE Cowboys Hour. We're virtual again, 10 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: and not only that, but I will be playing the 11 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: role of Shannon Gross this evening. Also, Shannon has been 12 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: assigned to home healthcare duty for a few days, and 13 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:07,119 Speaker 1: it is our sad responsibility that this show, like last 14 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: week and the next two weeks to finish the run 15 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: of the season, will be virtual because of the NFL's 16 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: COVID policies. So we look forward to welcoming all of 17 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: you back live, whether we're at Ford Center, at the 18 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: Star or wherever we might be next year. But we 19 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: are delighted to have you with us wherever you're listening 20 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 1: on the Dallas Cowboys Radio network and streaming whenever during 21 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: the week you are doing so on Dallas Cowboys dot com. Howdy, 22 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: And that other big face in your camera right there 23 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: who cannot see us so he wins is the future 24 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer and the seven time pro bowler number seventy, 25 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: Zach Martin. Thank you ever so much for your time 26 00:01:55,760 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: this evening. Thanks for having me and this all of 27 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: you will be able to tell because the nature of 28 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: the telecommunications is such that this is going to be 29 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: like every network newscast you've seen for the last two years. 30 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: There's about a two second delay between one person's finishing 31 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: a statement and the other person's response or next statement. 32 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: So bear with us. We're grateful to have all of 33 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: you with us on Victory Monday in Shannon Gross's honor. 34 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: It's victory Monday, but it's victory Monday. I mean that 35 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: was so People ask me all the time, Zach Boy, 36 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 1: was not a fun game to broadcast? And the truth 37 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: is I tell them that every game is fun to broadcast. 38 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: Some of them are a little more work, but they're 39 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: all fun to broadcast, you know. You've only got X 40 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 1: number of years to play football, so I'm sure even 41 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: the games that you hate, you enjoy the fact that 42 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 1: you get to play in them. But having said that, 43 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: what's that like when one goes like that last yesterday 44 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: or night? Because they don't go like that very often 45 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: now they don't. It was great, you know, we we 46 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: talked about it, um, kind of the night before the 47 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: game of having a game. We really haven't played a 48 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: game where all three phases have played together and gone 49 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: out and had a complete game. So that was kind 50 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: of our big message this week and um, to kind 51 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: of put it together and have all three phases really 52 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: contribute to have that team win. Um, it is nice 53 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: to go out to you know, be on the sidelines 54 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 1: watching some of the guys who don't normally get to 55 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: play get out there and get some snaps. Now you 56 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: understand that everyone now expects you to play like that 57 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: every week? Right? Yeah? Of course? So are you all 58 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: you know, the standards are high, the expectations. What's that 59 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: are you? Are you all prepared to live up to that? Now? Yeah? 60 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: I think well, you know, I think we've talked about um, 61 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: you know, we started the season. I'm talking offensively here, 62 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: really hot, and then you know we a couple of 63 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: weeks there were um, you know, we weren't playing as consistently, 64 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: you know as we're capable of. And I think, um, 65 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: you know, we've talked about over the last few weeks, 66 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: if we can just keep getting better each week and 67 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: kind of hit hit this thing at our peak when 68 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: the playoffs start, Um, that's kind of our goal. So 69 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 1: we're just trying to get better each week and hit 70 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: hit uh, you know, hit our potential there when when 71 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 1: it matters most. So let's, um, since you've introduced the 72 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 1: subject of how the offense has been playing and played 73 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: last night, let's delve into that just for a moment. 74 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: Because when people say to me why is or they 75 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: offer their opinions about what's wrong with the offense, that's 76 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: what happened most of the time, or or they ask 77 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 1: what's what's wrong? My answer is usually, look, this is 78 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: these things are like a Swiss watch. There's a lot 79 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: of stuff going on, and it's not like anybody's playing terrible. 80 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: There's just if a play hits here, if you don't 81 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: get a flag there or a drop there, or you 82 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 1: get a block over there, then the whole game might 83 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 1: turn around, but it doesn't just happen. It takes a 84 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: little bit of time. So does it feel like it 85 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 1: felt a little bit? And I think the whole thing's 86 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: about rhythm and tempo. Does the rhythm feel last night? 87 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: Did it feel like a little bit more like the 88 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: first six or seven weeks of the season. I think so. 89 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 1: And I think you saw last night we were we 90 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: were on the ball a lot, you know, we were 91 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: running plays with a lot of time on the play clock, 92 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: just just kind of smooth right down the field. And 93 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: I think you hit on a good point there, Brad. 94 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,119 Speaker 1: You know, when you when it's not going your way 95 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 1: on offense, especially that little skid we had. You know, 96 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: you always think, um, we're not playing very well, and 97 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: you watch the tape and it's never as bad and 98 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:52,840 Speaker 1: it's never as good as you think. So, um, yeah, 99 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 1: we were not very productive there for a few weeks. 100 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,119 Speaker 1: When you watch the tape and you could tell we're close, 101 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 1: we're you know, a few plays here and there, you 102 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 1: know a few blocks here and there. So um, I 103 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: think everyone on offense knows what we're capable of. And 104 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: you know, I think the last couple of weeks, we've 105 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 1: kind of been taking those steps to get back to that, 106 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: you know, that high power offense that we had we 107 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: saw earlier in the year. So there's a couple of 108 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 1: things that occurred to me coming off of that. One is, 109 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: I'll ask you a question that Babe Laffenberg asked me 110 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: before we went on the air last night, and then 111 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: I asked Mike McCarthy on his pregame segment. I'll tell 112 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: you afterwards what he said. But the question Babe asked 113 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: me was, can you I'll say, fix, I think that's 114 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: a little bit of an overreach, but can you can 115 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: you get better against an overmanned team that might be 116 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:50,160 Speaker 1: inferior in personnel and is at a definite disadvantage? And 117 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: Washington was at a definite disadvantage. They had a lot 118 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: of people out, they had played on Tuesday, blah blah blah. 119 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: You guys have been through the same thing. So the 120 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: question is can you do what you did last night 121 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: and have it not be fool's gold? Can you really 122 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: get better? So what's your thought about that? Yeah, I 123 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: think you can. I mean so much of this thing. 124 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: I think what people got to like realized late in 125 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: the season it's all about confidence in them and momentum. 126 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: So um, you know, obviously they had some guys out, 127 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: We had a couple of guys out, but just that 128 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: confidence at the momentum you get from that playing as 129 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: a team for four quarters like that, that that carries 130 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: over and you can you can build off of that note, 131 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 1: no question. So the other thing that I've been thinking 132 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: about in the last few weeks that I hadn't really 133 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: put a lot of thought into before is um, you know, 134 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: your head coach makes a big point of talking about 135 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: December football, and it's something that he really points to 136 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: has his whole head coaching career. So the public wants 137 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: to see the offense that you were putting on the 138 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: field in September and half of October. And it has 139 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: occurred to me, and I'm posing this to you to 140 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:15,239 Speaker 1: ask your thoughts. Is that even reasonable? Because everything's different 141 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: by the time you get to December. There's everybody's got 142 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 1: tape on stuff, there have been injuries. Their teams are 143 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: just different in December than they were in September. That's 144 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: a and then B is when your defense is playing 145 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: the way your defense is now, would it be wrong 146 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: to say you don't have to have five hundred yards 147 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: a game. You don't have to score forty points a game. 148 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: You just have to be good enough to supplement the 149 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: way your defense is played. Is that a fair statement? 150 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: You know? Obviously our defense has been playing lights out 151 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: and it's been huge for us. Now, I think, you know, 152 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: the competitive side of us, the guys that we have 153 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: on offense, we want to be a group that our 154 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: team can count on and know they've got there and 155 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: make a play, you know, throughout the game and kind 156 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 1: of take us to that next level. So that's what 157 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:07,559 Speaker 1: we're working to working on getting getting there. And then 158 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: our obviously our defense, like I said, been playing lights out, 159 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 1: and you know, I know those guys too, they're gonna 160 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: keep They're gonna keep going, so we can we can 161 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: mesh those two together. I think we're gonna be a 162 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: dangerous team here come late in the season. Do you 163 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: um when the defense is on the field, I mean, yeah, 164 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 1: I know, you gotta catch your breath. You gotta listen 165 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: to Philbin and blastso and figure out, well who's doing 166 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: what and talk about that guy who's been giving you 167 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: a little problem. But um, do you do you get 168 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:35,960 Speaker 1: a chance to sit back and look at some of 169 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: the individual plays that your defense has been making and go, 170 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: holy cow, where'd they come from? Yeah? Now, we had 171 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: especially lately. I think coach Philbin probably wasn't you know, 172 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: last night. I think he's catching us watching the Gembo 173 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: tron the whole time we're on the sideline, because, like 174 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: you said, they're making, you know, huge play after huge play, turnovers. 175 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: DeMarcus gets the pick six running around like a running back. 176 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:02,559 Speaker 1: I mean, you're you're locked in. I mean obviously you're 177 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: you're making adjustments and all that, but you want to 178 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: watch those guys go out there and do what they 179 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: do best. Okay, um Connor McGovern was supposed to be 180 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: the target in New Jersey. They respected his athleticism and 181 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 1: covered him, took him away. They could not contain steel 182 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:23,839 Speaker 1: last night. What about the rest of you? When do 183 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: you get it? When do you guys get a chance? 184 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 1: And I think I think some guys, you know, Tyring, 185 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: there's been plays in there for Tyron we haven't called, 186 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: and you know, everyone's kind of getting everyone kind of 187 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,839 Speaker 1: wanted their shot. But Terrence, Uh, I'd say Terrence is 188 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: one of the more athletic guys. At the bunch, so 189 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: he went out there and got it done for us. 190 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 1: It'd be harder for you, right, I mean, it'd be 191 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: harder to hide you, moving you out of right guard. Yeah, 192 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: I think I think it's more of a you know, 193 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:55,320 Speaker 1: tackle Jembo tight end type deal, which is uh, which 194 00:10:55,360 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: is fine. And and but now Tyron Tyrone can't be 195 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 1: pleased about having things in that he's practiced during the week. 196 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 1: And then come on, let's if I'm gonna do it, 197 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: let's go. Come on, let's go eight Pro bowls. Let's go. Well, 198 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: Terence took its thunder last night, so I'm sure Tired 199 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 1: will be here and some of that here in the 200 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 1: next week or so. All right, we're gonna We're gonna 201 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: take a break, and I would like to talk a 202 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: little bit about a whole bunch of things, because we've 203 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: got forty five minutes left to share our deepest thoughts 204 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 1: and feelings, and we are delighted to have you with 205 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: us on the Middle Lake Cowboy Hour, Zach Martin. We'll 206 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 1: also talk a little bit about the virtual world, which 207 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: I know all of you thought you had put in 208 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: your rear view mirror after last year. Surprise not so much, 209 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:47,079 Speaker 1: so take a deep breath, sit back. Thank you very 210 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 1: much for being with us. Zach Martin our guest on 211 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: the Cowboy Hour tonight, and we are brought to you 212 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: in part by Albertson's. When it comes time to shop 213 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: for tailgate favorites, go to Albertson's and Tom Thumb. Get 214 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: ten percent off your groceries every Dallas Cowboys game day 215 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: when you wear your Cowboys jersey. Albertson's and Tom Thumb 216 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: the official supermarket and pharmacy of the Dallas Cowboys. And 217 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 1: we're also brought to you in part by Lou Casey, 218 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: the official bootmaker of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. We'll be 219 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: back with Zach Martin in just a moment on the 220 00:12:18,200 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: Cowboys Hour to the Miller Led Cowboys Hour, supported by 221 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: Albertsons and Omni Hotels and Resorts. Welcome back to the 222 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: Miller Led Cowboys Hour. I'm Brad Sham. Shannon Gross is 223 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: on home healthcare duty this week. We are virtual for 224 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: the rest of the season on this program because of 225 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: the NFL's COVID protocols, which is why if you are 226 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: listening to us on the radio, you are hearing a 227 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: little gap between me and our special guest, All Star 228 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 1: guard Zach Martin. And if you are watching on Dallas 229 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: Cowboys dot Com streaming at any time during the week, 230 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: you see us in separate and you'll still hear the 231 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 1: little gap between boys because that's the technology. But here 232 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: we are, this is this is what it is, Um 233 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 1: and Zach. It feels like they're they're handling it a 234 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: little better than last year, but it's also a completely 235 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: different problem. Um, did did you guys think you were 236 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: done with all this? I know you got a little 237 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: reminder back in September that you weren't done with it, 238 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 1: but um, did you did you think that you were 239 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: done with it all? And how are you as as players, 240 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 1: let alone people with families, how are you adjusting to 241 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: another year of this? Yeah? I think I think we 242 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 1: went into training camp it kind of felt like we 243 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: were getting over this because you know, we were back 244 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: in Oxnardum, we had fans out of practice in California. 245 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: You know, started the season no problem, So it's kind 246 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: of like, Okay, this this is kind of coming to 247 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: an end. And then obviously, you know, within the last 248 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: month or something, it's really picked back up. So we're 249 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 1: we're back into that virtual world that we've been in 250 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 1: last year a little bit, so all things were used 251 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 1: to and that you just got to adjust to. But um, 252 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:18,719 Speaker 1: you know, I think the coaches and our staff has 253 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: have handled it really well these last couple weeks when 254 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:24,120 Speaker 1: we've had to go back to virtual and I think 255 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 1: it would be in the second year of kind of 256 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: going through this, it's a lot smoother than it was 257 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: last year. I'm going to ask you to take people 258 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:37,720 Speaker 1: behind the curtain a little bit because everyone has had 259 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: their own experience with the virtual world, working from home, 260 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: what have you Obviously you guys aren't completely working from 261 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: home because you can practice and you can play the games. 262 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 1: But what what what does it mean for you to 263 00:17:51,960 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: shift into virtual meetings? What does your week look like now? Yeah, 264 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: so we're basically, um, we're only in the building to 265 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: either lift, work out or to practice. So, um, you know, 266 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: a normal day would be, um, like Wednesday, for example, 267 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 1: We'll go in, we'll work out early in the morning, 268 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: We'll have different lifting groups where they stagger how many 269 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: guys can be in there. So you'll go lift and 270 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:21,919 Speaker 1: then you'll go you'll go back home meet for a 271 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 1: few hours virtually at your house. Then you know there's 272 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 1: about an hour travel time to get back into the facility, 273 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: get ready for practice. UM, got on the field, dude, 274 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,679 Speaker 1: get the practice in. UM, have a little break to 275 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 1: get back home to to go virtual meetings there for 276 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: the afternoon. But it's really it's really about the same 277 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: schedules we had, we would have if we came into 278 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 1: the building. It's just um guys who are traveling back 279 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:45,920 Speaker 1: and forth to go home, to go home, to meet 280 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: virtually on their iPads. Now, I'm going to use the 281 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,199 Speaker 1: offensive line as the example for this because that's what 282 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 1: you play, but it could be any position here. UM. 283 00:18:55,560 --> 00:19:00,199 Speaker 1: So let's let's say you're you are meeting in the 284 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: offensive line room under normal circumstances, and coach philbin has 285 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:07,959 Speaker 1: got maybe he's got the lights turned off so you 286 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: can see the the video and the power points and 287 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: all the things. And if I've never been in one 288 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: of those meetings, but I've been told every now and then, 289 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 1: a guy might not off, something might happen, a guy 290 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: might kind of just lose his concentration and suddenly there's 291 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:30,400 Speaker 1: heavy breathing next to you. You You got to you gotta 292 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: poke the guy and hope it's not you being it 293 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:37,239 Speaker 1: to happen. Okay, I mean I've just I've heard, I've heard. Uh. 294 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 1: Now there's the coach doesn't always know that that's going 295 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,159 Speaker 1: on if the lights are off and he's looking at 296 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 1: the screen and you kind of kind of take care 297 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: of yourself. But now if you're all at home, he's 298 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: got to monitor you. No one's there to poke you. 299 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: And how do guys maintain their focus and really pay 300 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: attention in that situation? Yeah, I mean I think really 301 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: the only difference. I mean, they literally they they'll have 302 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:10,120 Speaker 1: a camera set up in our meeting room on our 303 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: big projector screen there, and and we'll run it just 304 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 1: like a normal meeting. You'll have you know, obviously your 305 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,160 Speaker 1: camera onto your face is on the on the screen. 306 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:18,680 Speaker 1: So I think they got a big board there that 307 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 1: can see everyone's faces, and it's run like a pretty 308 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 1: much a normal meeting. We're watching tape. Um, you know, 309 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:27,439 Speaker 1: they're drawing on the board, making you know, adjustments throughout 310 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: the week, asking us questions. So um, you know, it's 311 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 1: obviously not the same as being in there because you know, 312 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: obviously being in person you get something. You know, the 313 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 1: extra um banter and kind of communication like that. But Um, 314 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,159 Speaker 1: like I said, I think all the coaches and and 315 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: guys have really adjusted well this season, and um, it's 316 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:49,679 Speaker 1: definitely got a lot smoother as far as the meetings 317 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: and the interaction and um getting a tot out of 318 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:57,880 Speaker 1: what we can go on virtually. Um that banter. Um, 319 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: I don't think that people who have never played and 320 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 1: don't have the shared experience that you guys do. I've 321 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 1: often I never I never played, but I wasn't a 322 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:11,640 Speaker 1: military and I've often said that I think that the 323 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 1: military is the only experience that can come to mind 324 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: for me that can simulate the bond that you guys 325 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: have shared sacrifice. Sometimes you hate the drill sergeant. Sometimes 326 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 1: you know he's your common enemy, but you but there 327 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 1: are things that you share walking out of the room, 328 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 1: just talking to each other that creates the kind of 329 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: bonding that allows you to be selflessly there for each 330 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 1: other when when the game comes. How much of that 331 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 1: do you miss? Yeah, that's probably definitely the what you 332 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,120 Speaker 1: miss the most. Um. You know, we're with each other 333 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: for basically eight ten hours a day, every day, and UM, 334 00:21:57,960 --> 00:21:59,679 Speaker 1: you know you have those relationships and you're spending so 335 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:02,120 Speaker 1: much time, like you said, you're going through, you know, 336 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: all the stuff that sucks to to, you know, accomplish 337 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 1: a common goal. So um, you know, we get to 338 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 1: go in there and go to practice and still have 339 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 1: that time in the locker room, but just a little 340 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: kind of in meeting stuff, going from meeting the meeting, 341 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 1: seeing all the different position groups. That's definitely thing you 342 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: miss when you're when you're at homeboat virtually. Let's talk 343 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: about it. I'd like to have you talk about a 344 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 1: couple of the guys in your offensive line room. One 345 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:30,120 Speaker 1: of them you and I had a very brief conversation 346 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:34,119 Speaker 1: about the other day. But I'm just I am fascinated 347 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: by the year that Connor Williams has had and is having. 348 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 1: I think everybody understands the reason that he was taken 349 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:46,359 Speaker 1: out of the lineup for a while because not but 350 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: it but maybe some people don't understand because the perception 351 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 1: is that he wasn't playing well and I don't know 352 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:53,880 Speaker 1: if that's true. He was getting a lot of penalties, 353 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:56,400 Speaker 1: and we all know how subjective penalties can be. After 354 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:58,879 Speaker 1: a while, then you worry about a guy becoming a 355 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 1: target and that gets into his head before. But can 356 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:08,399 Speaker 1: you just talk about how well he was playing and 357 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 1: not only has he not had a penalty in the 358 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:12,919 Speaker 1: last two games, but I hate to say, I think 359 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 1: you're running better. There's a lot of reasons for that. Yeah, yeah, 360 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 1: I think you know, Connor's like you. I think you 361 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 1: can hit the nail on the head. I think people 362 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:27,160 Speaker 1: on the outside see the penalties and you know, get frustrated. 363 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:29,120 Speaker 1: But when you really watched the tape and break it down, 364 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 1: he was playing at a high level. And you know, obviously, 365 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: like you said, I don't know if he was a 366 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 1: target or whatnot, but it just looked at the officials 367 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 1: were kind of that's the guy they were looking at. 368 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: So you know, obviously he was out for a few games. 369 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: But I think since he's been back, and really credit 370 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:50,439 Speaker 1: to him because I think so many times, you know, 371 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: our sports very competitive, and sometimes when guys are kind 372 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: of passed over like that, they they check out. And 373 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,120 Speaker 1: you know that's something that Connor never did. He came 374 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 1: to work every day for Pair like a starter, stayed 375 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:04,919 Speaker 1: locked in and I think deep down he knew that 376 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: he know his opportunities would come again, and they did, 377 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:10,119 Speaker 1: and he's taking taking it and run with it. So 378 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 1: he's done an excellent job since he's been back in, 379 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 1: you know, playing extremely hard, just kind of exactly like 380 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:18,119 Speaker 1: he was playing before. We just haven't you know, no 381 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:20,920 Speaker 1: penalties the last couple of games. So I'm super happy 382 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:23,879 Speaker 1: for Connor and I see all the work that he's 383 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: put into it throughout the offseason, you know, obviously last 384 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:29,880 Speaker 1: year being the only guy to go through the whole 385 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 1: season there on the line, and so he's put a 386 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 1: ton of work into it, and he really deserves it. 387 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:38,480 Speaker 1: I'm happy to see him playing so well. There's an 388 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 1: element to offensive line play that I think a lot 389 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 1: of casual fans miss and every really really good team 390 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 1: that I've been around there you have to have great agility, 391 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:56,959 Speaker 1: balanced leverage, intelligence, all of that somewhere on that line. 392 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:01,439 Speaker 1: If it's a really really good team, there's one or 393 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 1: two guys who are the dirty backbone of the whole thing. 394 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 1: They're the ones who will go through the whistle. They're 395 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 1: the ones who bring a nasty level to and help 396 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 1: the whole group set the tempone. It doesn't mean that 397 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 1: everybody else doesn't have some of that, but that was 398 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,879 Speaker 1: that was Eric Williams in the nineties before he got hurt. 399 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 1: That was Mark Colombo. I think I think that, uh, 400 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 1: it's Lyle Collins a little bit right now on this team. 401 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:37,880 Speaker 1: Not that not that you can't be nasty, just as 402 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 1: sweet and lovely as you seem to be. Not that 403 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 1: tyrant isn't scary as the day is long. I think 404 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:47,199 Speaker 1: Lyell's got a little of that. And and you're you 405 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: are beginning to convince me that Connor Williams might have 406 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 1: a little of that in him too, Please expound absolutely, 407 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:59,159 Speaker 1: And I think, yeah, absolutely. I think you know, Connor 408 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:02,399 Speaker 1: brings that, you know, he's so invested in it, and 409 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 1: he cares so much about it. He brings that extra 410 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: little edge when he's out there. He plays extremely hard, 411 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:10,680 Speaker 1: he plays fast. Um, like he said, he plays a 412 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:14,959 Speaker 1: little nasty. Um. So I think I think that continuity 413 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,880 Speaker 1: too has been something, um you know, that's been great 414 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: not saying him that Connor mcgovernor didn't do a nice job. 415 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: And obviously, um, you know McGovern has been a huge 416 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 1: part of our team this year and all the different 417 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 1: ways we've used him. Um, you know, I think that 418 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: continuity with Connor Williams out there has been, um, you know, 419 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: just very consistent and I think you've seen that over 420 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 1: the last couple of weeks. All right, let's talk about 421 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 1: Connor McGovern because I don't know what gave Kellen More 422 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:48,480 Speaker 1: the idea to trot him out at fullback and um, 423 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:51,639 Speaker 1: and maybe there was something about LC when he wasn't 424 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 1: playing that made him particularly a fit for the big 425 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 1: what did he call it, the Hulk package? Is that? 426 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:01,440 Speaker 1: Is that what you guys called it? The Hulk package? 427 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: The huge? Yeah, yeah, but we're not gonna see we're 428 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: not We're probably not gonna see that. But the but 429 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: the macpackage, as I understand we call it, is uh 430 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:15,400 Speaker 1: that Connor McGovern is so good at that and and 431 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 1: you and I had this conversation the other day, but 432 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:21,240 Speaker 1: I just I've kind of can envision going into the 433 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 1: playoffs and and he can just be a guard playing 434 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 1: fullback and nobody's got that, and he brings the offensive 435 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: lineman's mentality and in combination blocks and all that stuff. 436 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 1: What a weapon. Yeah, it really is. And I think 437 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: you know, Connor did McGovern did such a great job 438 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: last year coming in and playing for me when I 439 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 1: was when I was out and really had a really 440 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: good training camp and uh, you know, really earned the 441 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:51,439 Speaker 1: right to kind of get to be out on the field. 442 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: And um so I think Kellen Kellen and those guys 443 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:56,640 Speaker 1: did a great job of finding different ways to use him, 444 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:58,880 Speaker 1: and uh, you know that that has been a huge 445 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:01,919 Speaker 1: package for us. And I think he's really natural at 446 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:04,400 Speaker 1: that kind of fullback position, kind of finding his way 447 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:07,439 Speaker 1: through the whole attacking guy's kind of almost being like 448 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 1: a third guard in there on some of the plays 449 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 1: that we've been running with them. So it's been a 450 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 1: great addition to our offense. And you know, it's been 451 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:18,360 Speaker 1: probably one of our more productive packages that we've had 452 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 1: this year. And I don't want to be presumptuous and 453 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:26,359 Speaker 1: not that you'd tell me anyway, but to ask about 454 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:29,679 Speaker 1: you know, schemes and plans and things. But would it 455 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:32,439 Speaker 1: be wrong to envision that as you go into the postseason, 456 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,159 Speaker 1: that that we could see that used in a bigger 457 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: different way than has been the case so far. Yeah, 458 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't Again, I don't I don't know 459 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 1: what they have planned. But like I said that, the 460 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 1: film doesn't lie about it. It really has been one 461 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 1: of our most especially in the run game one of 462 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 1: our most productive formation packages. So I know those guys 463 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 1: are gonna keep finding ways to use them and to 464 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 1: help our offense. Okay, um, let's take another break. We're 465 00:28:59,240 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 1: gonna come back and talk about the Pro Bowl and 466 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 1: some other stuff. Zach Martin's our guest virtually. I mean, 467 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: he really is our guest. He's not virtually our guest, 468 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 1: but he's he's with us virtually because we're in a 469 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: virtual format on the Cowboys Hour. We'll be right back 470 00:30:08,440 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 1: back to the Miller like Cowboys Hour, supported by Albertsons 471 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:31,240 Speaker 1: and Omni Hotels and Resorts, and welcome back to the 472 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:34,240 Speaker 1: Miller Like Cowboys Hour. We are virtual tonight and will 473 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:37,160 Speaker 1: be for our final two programs of the year the 474 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:41,040 Speaker 1: next two weeks. I'm Brad Sham. Shannon Gross is on 475 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:47,000 Speaker 1: home healthcare duty. Special guest this evening Cowboys seven time, 476 00:32:47,400 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 1: six times, seven time Pro Bowler six times, seven times, 477 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:55,200 Speaker 1: seven times. Okay, I'm just saying I'm sending you, as 478 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:57,840 Speaker 1: you well know, I've already sent you to Canton. So 479 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 1: seven time Pro Bowler, Zach Martin our guest, and you 480 00:33:03,880 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 1: don't know what you've missed, Zack by Shannon not being 481 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:11,120 Speaker 1: here because one of the staples of this program has 482 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:15,640 Speaker 1: become Shannon's Miller Lte moment of the show, which is 483 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:20,320 Speaker 1: where he does a deep dive into the guests Wikipedia page. 484 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:25,080 Speaker 1: And when we were alive with an audience, every time 485 00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:29,719 Speaker 1: there was an error, he's it's sponsored by Miller Light. 486 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:32,760 Speaker 1: So Shannon would take a hit of Miller Light and 487 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:35,160 Speaker 1: then he would start making mistakes on purpose so he 488 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:39,720 Speaker 1: could drink a little more Miller Light. But we look 489 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:44,440 Speaker 1: forward to reintroducing the Miller LIGHTE Miller LIGHTE moment in 490 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:47,040 Speaker 1: the Wikipedia page. I didn't do that. I didn't feel 491 00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:50,600 Speaker 1: like I wanted to do that with you because I 492 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:53,320 Speaker 1: don't have any Miller Light here. Frankly, I have to 493 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:58,120 Speaker 1: till I get home for that. I tease you, but 494 00:33:58,240 --> 00:34:02,720 Speaker 1: I'm not teasing about the honors. Um. You were asked 495 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:04,760 Speaker 1: a lot about making the Pro Bowl again. I know 496 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 1: it's not what you're thinking about. I know, and that's 497 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:09,560 Speaker 1: another thing that I do want to get into. But um, 498 00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:13,200 Speaker 1: but you did have the injuries that kept you out 499 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:17,720 Speaker 1: of it last year, and so UM, congratulations on making 500 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:21,000 Speaker 1: it again. And what what does that mean to you? 501 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:26,879 Speaker 1: Where does it fit in your in your Galaxy. Yeah, 502 00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:28,919 Speaker 1: I mean it's a huge honor. And I think every 503 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:31,799 Speaker 1: year obviously we've got team goals, but you know, every 504 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:34,840 Speaker 1: year you're coming with your individual goals, and um, you know, 505 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:36,719 Speaker 1: I think I have a standard for myself on how 506 00:34:36,760 --> 00:34:38,640 Speaker 1: I want to play and how I think i'm people 507 00:34:38,640 --> 00:34:41,719 Speaker 1: of playing. And um, you know, obviously had some ups 508 00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:45,040 Speaker 1: and downs last year, missed some significant time for the 509 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 1: first time in my career, and I really want to 510 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:49,799 Speaker 1: make a point to come back and and just be 511 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:51,680 Speaker 1: that same guy, be the guy that everyone can count 512 00:34:51,680 --> 00:34:55,839 Speaker 1: on to be consistent weekend and week out, and you know, 513 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:59,200 Speaker 1: get back to play at that high level. So, um, 514 00:34:59,239 --> 00:35:03,160 Speaker 1: you know, big honor for me again. Um, but um, 515 00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:04,680 Speaker 1: you know, I worked, I worked hard to get back 516 00:35:04,719 --> 00:35:07,200 Speaker 1: to this and and uh, I just keep trying to 517 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:09,280 Speaker 1: take my game to that next level. When you missed 518 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:14,399 Speaker 1: the first week, um, and some of your teammates were 519 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:17,000 Speaker 1: asked about, Okay, what what is what will you be 520 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:21,920 Speaker 1: missing in Zach and Zeke Elliott, Uh didn't even hesitate 521 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:25,080 Speaker 1: by saying something that frankly I agree with, which is 522 00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:28,879 Speaker 1: Zeke said, well, Zach's our best football player, so we're 523 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:31,719 Speaker 1: really going to have to work to U to get 524 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 1: around missing him. UM. How important to you is that 525 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:43,520 Speaker 1: kind of affirmation from your teammates? I mean, yeah, I 526 00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:46,040 Speaker 1: think any especially coming from Zeke, who I you know, 527 00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:49,120 Speaker 1: I think so highly of UM as a person and 528 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:51,919 Speaker 1: a player and a competitor. UM, it means a lot. 529 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:54,680 Speaker 1: And it was tough, I think, especially coming out coming 530 00:35:54,719 --> 00:35:57,839 Speaker 1: off of missing those last five or six games last year, 531 00:35:58,600 --> 00:36:00,440 Speaker 1: not be not being able to be out there on 532 00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:03,480 Speaker 1: that opening night, especially UM down in Tampa versus the 533 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:06,600 Speaker 1: defending champs, and UM, you know, be with my teammates. 534 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:08,719 Speaker 1: But you know, I think as we've seen throughout this 535 00:36:08,719 --> 00:36:12,000 Speaker 1: whole year, every team is going through UM all the 536 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:15,239 Speaker 1: different COVID stuff. So UM, it's just part of part 537 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:18,960 Speaker 1: of what we're dealing with right now. Is UM you know, 538 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:21,520 Speaker 1: really across the world. And UM, you know, I was 539 00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:24,279 Speaker 1: back in the next week and and and obviously it 540 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:25,719 Speaker 1: felt great when I was able to get back out 541 00:36:25,719 --> 00:36:28,239 Speaker 1: there with my team. Now, I'm I'm not kidding about 542 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:29,759 Speaker 1: the Hall of Fame. I know that we had a 543 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 1: little running joke for a couple of years at the 544 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:34,080 Speaker 1: beginning of your career when I would ask you about 545 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:35,920 Speaker 1: playing tackle, and then last year you went out and 546 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:38,440 Speaker 1: played tackle as soon as I quit asking any about it. 547 00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:41,799 Speaker 1: But that I was kind of kidding about that just 548 00:36:41,920 --> 00:36:43,880 Speaker 1: not my fault. You're a versatile athlete and you can 549 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:46,880 Speaker 1: do more than one thing. Don't don't shoot the messenger. 550 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:50,359 Speaker 1: But I'm not kidding about the Hall of Fame. You're 551 00:36:50,440 --> 00:36:54,360 Speaker 1: you're you're all decade. Uh, You're a seven time pro bowler. 552 00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:57,279 Speaker 1: If you're healthy, you're going to continue to make them. Uh. 553 00:36:57,320 --> 00:37:00,960 Speaker 1: And and I really, I really believe that you're a 554 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:02,680 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame player. What does that mean to you? 555 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:09,960 Speaker 1: Where is that in your galaxy? I mean, look, i'd 556 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:11,680 Speaker 1: be lying to you if I said I've never thought 557 00:37:11,719 --> 00:37:16,160 Speaker 1: about it before. Um, obviously, I think as you start 558 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:18,239 Speaker 1: your career those I mean, at least for me, that 559 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:20,680 Speaker 1: was never like I didn't come in the NFL and say, 560 00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:24,279 Speaker 1: you know, I want to be this or that. You know, 561 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:26,560 Speaker 1: obviously had expectations for myself, but I didn't come in 562 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:29,280 Speaker 1: saying I think I'm gonna be a Hall of Famer. 563 00:37:29,320 --> 00:37:31,359 Speaker 1: And you know, obviously I think I still have some 564 00:37:31,800 --> 00:37:34,640 Speaker 1: ways to go there. But um, you know, over the years, 565 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:36,520 Speaker 1: it's definitely something that kind of pops up in your mind. 566 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:38,240 Speaker 1: And it is a goal you set out for yourself. 567 00:37:38,320 --> 00:37:40,279 Speaker 1: And you know, I think at this point in my career, 568 00:37:40,280 --> 00:37:44,359 Speaker 1: obviously winning the whole thing is number one, but um, 569 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:47,440 Speaker 1: you know, continuing to take my game up each year 570 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:49,239 Speaker 1: and stay that consists of level of maybe I have 571 00:37:49,239 --> 00:37:51,920 Speaker 1: a shot there one day. It's definitely a goal. So 572 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:54,920 Speaker 1: let's talk about taking your game up each year. M 573 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:59,040 Speaker 1: I have you, you're probably I'm gonna guess you're your 574 00:37:59,040 --> 00:38:06,359 Speaker 1: own harshest critic. Most great players are, ye, So do 575 00:38:06,440 --> 00:38:08,799 Speaker 1: you still have things you think you need to do 576 00:38:09,080 --> 00:38:12,080 Speaker 1: better or is your biggest challenge now to stay at 577 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:17,279 Speaker 1: the level you've attained? Well, you know, I think that's 578 00:38:17,640 --> 00:38:20,439 Speaker 1: the best part about football, and especially offensive line play, 579 00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:22,319 Speaker 1: and I think that's where, you know, some people don't 580 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:28,399 Speaker 1: always know how detailed and how many things there are 581 00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:31,560 Speaker 1: to work on at our specific position. So that that's 582 00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:33,440 Speaker 1: the thing that excites me is I'll go out there 583 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:36,160 Speaker 1: and during a practice and you know, I'll find a 584 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:38,640 Speaker 1: little something, whether it be something in my stance or 585 00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:41,520 Speaker 1: my first step or just little things where you know, 586 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:44,080 Speaker 1: I think that's that's helped me and really, quite frankly, 587 00:38:44,080 --> 00:38:45,560 Speaker 1: over the last couple of years, I think with coach 588 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:48,480 Speaker 1: Philbin and coach blasco, I have kind of taken a 589 00:38:48,480 --> 00:38:50,560 Speaker 1: few steps and figured out some new things that have 590 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:54,920 Speaker 1: really helped my game. And so yeah, I think it's 591 00:38:54,960 --> 00:38:58,200 Speaker 1: a it's a never ending chase to be the best 592 00:38:58,239 --> 00:39:00,400 Speaker 1: you can and especially at what we do on the 593 00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:03,280 Speaker 1: offensive line, there's so many things you can work on. Um, 594 00:39:03,320 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 1: that's that's really what makes it fun. Can you tell 595 00:39:06,239 --> 00:39:08,720 Speaker 1: people who have never played what some of those things 596 00:39:08,719 --> 00:39:14,360 Speaker 1: are that they've helped you get better at? Yeah, I 597 00:39:14,360 --> 00:39:18,440 Speaker 1: think just just looking at the game obviously, Um, I 598 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:21,680 Speaker 1: mean just a small thing. I mean training camp this year. 599 00:39:21,920 --> 00:39:24,359 Speaker 1: Coach Philman, you know, I've I've had success in this league. 600 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:25,960 Speaker 1: I've been around for a while and he's helped me. 601 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:28,800 Speaker 1: He's giving me pointers on different things in my stance 602 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:31,880 Speaker 1: and how it can make me more efficient my movements, 603 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:35,120 Speaker 1: and um, you know even that even stuff like that 604 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:38,320 Speaker 1: has made a huge difference in my opinion. And UM, 605 00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:40,359 Speaker 1: you know, when you find those things that you can 606 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:42,719 Speaker 1: tweak that can help you, it's all then it's about 607 00:39:42,719 --> 00:39:45,600 Speaker 1: applying it and doing it over and over and over again. Um. 608 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:47,680 Speaker 1: You know that's also something about the offensive line position 609 00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:51,400 Speaker 1: is it's it's something that you can't, in my opinion, 610 00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:55,040 Speaker 1: you can't get good at unless you're you're constantly taking 611 00:39:55,080 --> 00:39:58,600 Speaker 1: reps and reps and reps at it. So, um, you 612 00:39:58,600 --> 00:40:01,400 Speaker 1: know that that's been that's been fun. And I think, um, 613 00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:04,960 Speaker 1: you know coach Philman and coach Blasco, Um, you know 614 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:07,960 Speaker 1: they're very good at a given that consistent message and 615 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:11,759 Speaker 1: you hear it every single day. So um, it's it's 616 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:14,799 Speaker 1: just great reminders that those little things those add up, 617 00:40:14,840 --> 00:40:17,120 Speaker 1: and for me late in my career, I think that's 618 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:19,160 Speaker 1: really helped me. It's just continue to grind on those 619 00:40:19,160 --> 00:40:23,359 Speaker 1: little details. Um that really. I mean, you know, people 620 00:40:23,360 --> 00:40:26,400 Speaker 1: have always have opinions on blocking in different ways to 621 00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:29,960 Speaker 1: block people, but um, you know, it's pretty basic. And 622 00:40:29,960 --> 00:40:32,080 Speaker 1: I think when you when you go and you rep 623 00:40:32,120 --> 00:40:34,880 Speaker 1: those basic fundamentals over and over and over again, that's 624 00:40:34,920 --> 00:40:36,759 Speaker 1: when you get good at it. Don't say late in 625 00:40:36,840 --> 00:40:38,920 Speaker 1: your career. I rather think of you as being just 626 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:44,160 Speaker 1: maybe slightly past the midpoint. I'm not done with you yet, okay, yeah, yeah, 627 00:40:44,320 --> 00:40:47,319 Speaker 1: and i I'm not done yet, all right, good now. 628 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:49,920 Speaker 1: And I don't want to short Jeff Blasco, who I 629 00:40:49,960 --> 00:40:52,920 Speaker 1: think is a really really good intelligent, young coach. But 630 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:55,200 Speaker 1: I do want to talk about Joe Filman a minute, 631 00:40:55,400 --> 00:41:00,600 Speaker 1: because I think that the relationship between offensive lineman and 632 00:41:00,840 --> 00:41:05,759 Speaker 1: the offensive line coach is almost unique. Every position group 633 00:41:05,840 --> 00:41:08,200 Speaker 1: might say that. I happen to think it's really unique 634 00:41:08,200 --> 00:41:11,719 Speaker 1: among offensive linemen. I remember when Mark Stepnoski, who was 635 00:41:11,760 --> 00:41:15,560 Speaker 1: a tremendous player, left here as a free agent and 636 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:19,240 Speaker 1: went to the Oilers slash Titans and then came back, 637 00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:21,960 Speaker 1: and I remember asking him, what do you look for 638 00:41:22,120 --> 00:41:24,120 Speaker 1: as a free agent? What do you look for it? 639 00:41:24,239 --> 00:41:27,080 Speaker 1: Because people think it's money and maybe it's the city 640 00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:29,240 Speaker 1: and the weather and the head coach, and he said, well, 641 00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:35,120 Speaker 1: it's really it's the strength coach and it's your position 642 00:41:35,239 --> 00:41:37,759 Speaker 1: coach that make because the money is going to be 643 00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:39,560 Speaker 1: what the money's going to be. And so those two 644 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:42,400 Speaker 1: things he said to me are really critical, which was 645 00:41:42,440 --> 00:41:47,240 Speaker 1: an eye opener. So who was your rookie oh line coach? 646 00:41:47,880 --> 00:41:53,520 Speaker 1: Was it Callaghan? Yeah? Bill, Bill Callahan, and then after 647 00:41:53,760 --> 00:42:03,400 Speaker 1: Bill Frank Pollock, Frank Pollock, and and then um, pretty 648 00:42:03,480 --> 00:42:08,000 Speaker 1: quickly it was Colombo. Paul Alexander was in there for 649 00:42:08,239 --> 00:42:11,600 Speaker 1: just a part of the year. Paul Paul, Paul Alexander, 650 00:42:11,920 --> 00:42:19,080 Speaker 1: and then it was Colombo and then now coach Hive 651 00:42:20,880 --> 00:42:24,759 Speaker 1: so and Philbin is a guy who's people don't who 652 00:42:24,760 --> 00:42:27,440 Speaker 1: are not in the sport, don't pay attention to uh 653 00:42:27,680 --> 00:42:30,319 Speaker 1: lifer coaches. You know, Philbin's been a head coach, but 654 00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:33,040 Speaker 1: he's been around a very long time. What's he what's 655 00:42:33,080 --> 00:42:37,480 Speaker 1: he bring? Different? Completely different personality than than Colombo for 656 00:42:37,520 --> 00:42:40,960 Speaker 1: goodness sake and Alexander and uh, what have you gotten 657 00:42:41,040 --> 00:42:45,799 Speaker 1: from some of these guys that stick with you? Yeah? 658 00:42:45,840 --> 00:42:47,799 Speaker 1: I think, you know, I think I've taken something from 659 00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:51,719 Speaker 1: all those guys throughout my career. Um, but I think 660 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:53,960 Speaker 1: just seeking on coach Philbin, I mean as far as 661 00:42:53,960 --> 00:42:57,440 Speaker 1: a technical standpoint, um, what he teaches and kind of 662 00:42:57,480 --> 00:42:59,799 Speaker 1: his coaching tree, his offensive line coaching tree that he 663 00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:03,400 Speaker 1: was from is is what I came from from college. 664 00:43:03,440 --> 00:43:06,719 Speaker 1: My college line coach, um came from the same coach 665 00:43:06,760 --> 00:43:09,440 Speaker 1: and treatise coach Philbinum. So we're doing a lot of 666 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:12,160 Speaker 1: those same things. Really a lot of the basically the 667 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:16,160 Speaker 1: same exact drills I did through college we're doing now, um, 668 00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:18,920 Speaker 1: same kind of philosophy, same technique. So it's kind of 669 00:43:18,920 --> 00:43:24,880 Speaker 1: been fun to go back to that I mean offensive 670 00:43:24,880 --> 00:43:27,160 Speaker 1: line blocking. A lot of it is similar, but UM 671 00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:30,000 Speaker 1: just kind of that philosophy of offensive line teaching to 672 00:43:30,080 --> 00:43:32,480 Speaker 1: go back to that when I had UM. You know, 673 00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:34,400 Speaker 1: my last couple of years of Notre Dame has been 674 00:43:34,440 --> 00:43:38,400 Speaker 1: really fun. Zack Martin's our guest. By the way, how 675 00:43:38,440 --> 00:43:40,040 Speaker 1: often you talk to Travis? A lot of people thought 676 00:43:40,040 --> 00:43:44,680 Speaker 1: you'd drive up the blow away when Travis Frederick retired. Yea, 677 00:43:45,680 --> 00:43:47,839 Speaker 1: I talked to Travis each week he get I get 678 00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:50,360 Speaker 1: a pregame text from him every week. He sent me 679 00:43:50,360 --> 00:43:53,319 Speaker 1: a nice text after the game last night. He came 680 00:43:53,360 --> 00:43:55,239 Speaker 1: down to a game earlier this year, state of my house. 681 00:43:55,280 --> 00:43:59,279 Speaker 1: So we stay in touch m quite a bit. Yeah, 682 00:43:59,320 --> 00:44:01,800 Speaker 1: he was. He is an original. I still miss him. 683 00:44:02,480 --> 00:44:05,279 Speaker 1: I'll I would say, I would say, I would say 684 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:07,520 Speaker 1: tell him that I miss him, but I'll tell him myself. 685 00:44:07,520 --> 00:44:10,400 Speaker 1: I'll text him and tell him myself. Zach Martin is 686 00:44:10,400 --> 00:44:13,919 Speaker 1: our guest this evening on the Miller Lite Cowboys Hour. 687 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:16,440 Speaker 1: We're brought to you in part by Omni at the 688 00:44:16,480 --> 00:44:19,960 Speaker 1: Omni Frisco Hotel. Kick off your stay at the official 689 00:44:19,960 --> 00:44:22,640 Speaker 1: hotel of the Dallas Cowboys with style cool off in 690 00:44:22,719 --> 00:44:26,920 Speaker 1: the elevated pool savor upscale comfort food at neighborhood services, 691 00:44:27,160 --> 00:44:30,600 Speaker 1: and enjoy all the dining and established and entertainment options 692 00:44:30,640 --> 00:44:34,120 Speaker 1: the Star has to offer. Visit Omni Hotels dot com 693 00:44:34,120 --> 00:44:37,520 Speaker 1: slash Frisco to learn more and turn the next home 694 00:44:37,520 --> 00:44:40,960 Speaker 1: game into a weekend getaway. Zach Martin's our guest a 695 00:44:41,000 --> 00:44:44,399 Speaker 1: few more minutes with number seventy when we come back 696 00:44:44,400 --> 00:47:47,680 Speaker 1: on the Cowboys Hour, When to the Miller Like Cowboys 697 00:47:47,680 --> 00:47:54,600 Speaker 1: Hour supported by Albertsons and Omni Hotels and Resorts. Welcome 698 00:47:54,640 --> 00:47:57,239 Speaker 1: back to the Cowboys Hour, Brad Sham and our special guest, 699 00:47:57,320 --> 00:48:00,160 Speaker 1: Zach Martin, Shannon Gross. We hope we'll be back from 700 00:48:00,200 --> 00:48:04,640 Speaker 1: home healthcare duty next week. Missing you, Shannon, if you 701 00:48:04,680 --> 00:48:06,640 Speaker 1: are listening, and if you're not listening, we're still missing. 702 00:48:08,480 --> 00:48:14,799 Speaker 1: So home and Road really interesting. You guys just went 703 00:48:14,840 --> 00:48:18,239 Speaker 1: on the road. Three wins on the road. A lot 704 00:48:18,280 --> 00:48:20,120 Speaker 1: of people wanted to throw them back because they weren't 705 00:48:20,120 --> 00:48:22,760 Speaker 1: pretty enough, but they all went in the left hand column. 706 00:48:23,280 --> 00:48:28,280 Speaker 1: And then yesterday was a great shiny object, a bright 707 00:48:28,320 --> 00:48:31,440 Speaker 1: new ornament on the Christmas tree. Now Here comes a 708 00:48:31,440 --> 00:48:37,280 Speaker 1: really good team this week who has completely flipped that script. 709 00:48:37,880 --> 00:48:43,120 Speaker 1: They're ten and five there's six and one on the road, 710 00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:48,320 Speaker 1: which is bizarre to me. I don't get that. What 711 00:48:48,719 --> 00:48:50,000 Speaker 1: do you make of that? And what do you make 712 00:48:50,040 --> 00:48:53,280 Speaker 1: of home and road difference? How does it influence players 713 00:48:53,280 --> 00:48:59,600 Speaker 1: and games? Yeah, I think, I mean I remember, I 714 00:48:59,640 --> 00:49:01,799 Speaker 1: think it was my rookie year in twenty fourteen. I 715 00:49:01,800 --> 00:49:03,680 Speaker 1: think we were we were eight no on the road 716 00:49:03,719 --> 00:49:07,080 Speaker 1: and four and four at home that year. Um, you know, 717 00:49:07,120 --> 00:49:11,440 Speaker 1: I don't know. For whatever reason, I think teams, um, 718 00:49:11,480 --> 00:49:13,960 Speaker 1: you know, take on that mentality when you go on 719 00:49:14,000 --> 00:49:16,680 Speaker 1: the road it's kind of us versus the world. Um, 720 00:49:17,760 --> 00:49:19,920 Speaker 1: And they go out and they they play, you know, 721 00:49:20,000 --> 00:49:24,680 Speaker 1: they use that opposing crowd in their advantage and um, 722 00:49:24,719 --> 00:49:26,280 Speaker 1: you know, I think that's kind of our best whenever 723 00:49:26,320 --> 00:49:27,960 Speaker 1: we play our best on the road. It's kind of 724 00:49:28,000 --> 00:49:31,080 Speaker 1: that mentality of hey, it's us versus the world and 725 00:49:31,160 --> 00:49:34,520 Speaker 1: these guys hate us, and um, it's gonna be loud, 726 00:49:34,719 --> 00:49:37,279 Speaker 1: but you know, that satisfaction of of going out there 727 00:49:37,280 --> 00:49:40,759 Speaker 1: and execute and playing well, um against you know, a 728 00:49:40,760 --> 00:49:45,040 Speaker 1: hostile environment, it's pretty cool. Um. But I mean as 729 00:49:45,040 --> 00:49:47,840 Speaker 1: far as for us, I mean last night, the crowd 730 00:49:47,960 --> 00:49:51,000 Speaker 1: was was unbelievable last night. I think guys even in 731 00:49:51,040 --> 00:49:53,000 Speaker 1: pregame kind of felt that energy when we came out 732 00:49:53,040 --> 00:49:55,480 Speaker 1: in an hour before the game. UM, there was a 733 00:49:55,480 --> 00:49:58,080 Speaker 1: ton of people already in the in the in the stands. 734 00:49:58,560 --> 00:50:00,680 Speaker 1: It was really loud, and I think that that energy 735 00:50:01,280 --> 00:50:03,880 Speaker 1: UM definitely kind of went across the locker whom we 736 00:50:03,920 --> 00:50:05,480 Speaker 1: came back in for that ten minutes before we ran 737 00:50:05,480 --> 00:50:08,080 Speaker 1: out for kickoffs. So UM, you know, we had a 738 00:50:08,120 --> 00:50:10,600 Speaker 1: great crowd and hopefully we can keep that up UM 739 00:50:10,880 --> 00:50:14,440 Speaker 1: next week and then into the playoffs. Okay, so UM 740 00:50:15,360 --> 00:50:18,759 Speaker 1: the playoffs, which were now allowed to discuss because you've 741 00:50:18,760 --> 00:50:23,000 Speaker 1: won ten games, you made the playoffs. UM, that's that's uh, 742 00:50:23,320 --> 00:50:27,200 Speaker 1: Mike's um like benchmark. You can't talk about it until 743 00:50:27,200 --> 00:50:30,920 Speaker 1: you've you've done those things. Now you're in the playoffs, U, 744 00:50:31,480 --> 00:50:34,120 Speaker 1: and these two games that you have left are important 745 00:50:34,200 --> 00:50:37,160 Speaker 1: and they're gonna matter. H. They're not just gonna count, 746 00:50:37,160 --> 00:50:42,480 Speaker 1: they're gonna matter. UM. But you're not the only player 747 00:50:42,840 --> 00:50:46,560 Speaker 1: on this team. And you hear it more and more. 748 00:50:47,120 --> 00:50:49,280 Speaker 1: I think you hear it a lot from the defensive guys, 749 00:50:49,280 --> 00:50:51,600 Speaker 1: but especially from the veteran guys. You're not just defense. 750 00:50:51,640 --> 00:50:53,879 Speaker 1: You hear it from Dak, you hear it from Zeke Um, 751 00:50:54,760 --> 00:51:01,359 Speaker 1: you hear a lot about why you're playing this year, 752 00:51:01,840 --> 00:51:04,200 Speaker 1: and the hat and the shirt you got last night 753 00:51:04,280 --> 00:51:06,880 Speaker 1: are great, but that's not why you're playing. But Jason 754 00:51:06,920 --> 00:51:10,960 Speaker 1: Garrett said that to you every time he we all 755 00:51:11,000 --> 00:51:13,719 Speaker 1: saw the videos. Enjoy the hat and the shirt tonight 756 00:51:13,719 --> 00:51:17,240 Speaker 1: and tomorrow. Give him away, because this isn't why you're playing. 757 00:51:17,560 --> 00:51:20,800 Speaker 1: What's different now? And you're you're in year eight, tyrants 758 00:51:20,840 --> 00:51:23,600 Speaker 1: down the road a little bit. What's different now? What's 759 00:51:23,640 --> 00:51:29,480 Speaker 1: the sense of urgency? Yeah? I think guys are obviously 760 00:51:30,200 --> 00:51:32,200 Speaker 1: they see this opportunity we have in front of us, 761 00:51:32,200 --> 00:51:33,960 Speaker 1: and I think, as in one of the older guys 762 00:51:33,960 --> 00:51:37,800 Speaker 1: in the team, you know the messages, you know, we 763 00:51:37,880 --> 00:51:39,839 Speaker 1: got to take advantage of these opportunities when we have him, 764 00:51:39,840 --> 00:51:42,200 Speaker 1: because you know, I know when I came into the 765 00:51:42,280 --> 00:51:44,759 Speaker 1: NFL in two and fourteen, we went twelve and four, 766 00:51:44,880 --> 00:51:46,640 Speaker 1: made the Divisional round, and I kind of was like, 767 00:51:46,640 --> 00:51:48,080 Speaker 1: oh man, we're pretty good. This is kind of how 768 00:51:48,120 --> 00:51:50,040 Speaker 1: it's going to be, and you know we're gonna be 769 00:51:50,080 --> 00:51:51,400 Speaker 1: here every year. I have a shot to go to 770 00:51:51,440 --> 00:51:53,759 Speaker 1: the NFC Championship super Bowl, and you know, the next 771 00:51:53,840 --> 00:51:55,319 Speaker 1: year we get hit in the face and we're four 772 00:51:55,360 --> 00:51:57,759 Speaker 1: and twelve, so and then you know, always been back 773 00:51:57,800 --> 00:52:01,840 Speaker 1: to the playoffs twice before this year. So, UM, the opportunities, 774 00:52:01,840 --> 00:52:03,359 Speaker 1: you got to take advantage of them when you have them, 775 00:52:03,360 --> 00:52:05,759 Speaker 1: because you know, I know how I know, the guys 776 00:52:05,760 --> 00:52:07,399 Speaker 1: on the team know how hard it is to win, 777 00:52:07,560 --> 00:52:11,520 Speaker 1: especially late in the season. So you know, when you're younger, 778 00:52:11,520 --> 00:52:13,720 Speaker 1: you don't always you're always kind of oh yeah whatever, 779 00:52:13,800 --> 00:52:16,600 Speaker 1: But um, it is the truth. So I think the 780 00:52:16,680 --> 00:52:19,840 Speaker 1: sense of urgency is high. And I think guys understand M. 781 00:52:20,600 --> 00:52:22,480 Speaker 1: You know the opportunity that we have in front of us. 782 00:52:23,000 --> 00:52:32,160 Speaker 1: Where's the line between urgency and desperation? You know, I 783 00:52:33,800 --> 00:52:37,160 Speaker 1: look at it this way, Um, last week, this week, 784 00:52:37,520 --> 00:52:40,760 Speaker 1: obviously our next two games, like you said before, UM, 785 00:52:41,239 --> 00:52:43,799 Speaker 1: these games always obviously count, but they really do matter. 786 00:52:43,920 --> 00:52:47,200 Speaker 1: So M kind of taken. I think we've taken kind 787 00:52:47,200 --> 00:52:49,440 Speaker 1: of that playoff approach over the last couple of weeks, 788 00:52:49,440 --> 00:52:52,120 Speaker 1: and we know how important it is to win. So 789 00:52:52,160 --> 00:52:54,680 Speaker 1: I think the urgency is high, definitely. I don't think desperation. 790 00:52:54,719 --> 00:52:57,279 Speaker 1: There's no desperation in our in our room. I think 791 00:52:57,280 --> 00:53:00,360 Speaker 1: we're a confident budge to know where we're cap blove, 792 00:53:01,080 --> 00:53:03,880 Speaker 1: and you know, I think the mindset is right in 793 00:53:03,920 --> 00:53:05,920 Speaker 1: our locker room to to go on and finish out 794 00:53:05,960 --> 00:53:09,520 Speaker 1: the season strong, head an end to the postseason. You, um, 795 00:53:10,040 --> 00:53:13,240 Speaker 1: you played with a guy in Jason Whitten who had 796 00:53:13,320 --> 00:53:15,680 Speaker 1: another guy who had a Hall of Fame career who 797 00:53:16,920 --> 00:53:21,359 Speaker 1: never got any further than you've been in in a season. Yea, 798 00:53:22,000 --> 00:53:25,080 Speaker 1: And I know that that is that that really is 799 00:53:25,120 --> 00:53:28,040 Speaker 1: the reason, especially when you've been a few years, that's 800 00:53:28,040 --> 00:53:32,279 Speaker 1: the reason that you all play. Um do you uh? 801 00:53:32,760 --> 00:53:37,040 Speaker 1: Do you embrace the opportunity more than you feel compelled 802 00:53:37,120 --> 00:53:40,400 Speaker 1: to remember how difficult it is. I don't know if 803 00:53:40,440 --> 00:53:43,720 Speaker 1: I'm asking that very artfully, but there's a fine line 804 00:53:43,760 --> 00:53:49,880 Speaker 1: between between it being a positive incentive and almost a 805 00:53:50,040 --> 00:53:53,480 Speaker 1: negative burden, it seems to me. And I asked that 806 00:53:53,600 --> 00:53:59,080 Speaker 1: because this your your whole organization is paying really important 807 00:53:59,120 --> 00:54:02,040 Speaker 1: attention to mental health and attitude and all of those 808 00:54:02,120 --> 00:54:08,960 Speaker 1: kinds of things. Yeah, I guess I don't know if 809 00:54:08,440 --> 00:54:12,000 Speaker 1: you asked again. Yeah, I mean I think that you 810 00:54:12,000 --> 00:54:14,400 Speaker 1: know you can. You can. You can look at where 811 00:54:14,440 --> 00:54:17,719 Speaker 1: you've been and what you haven't done and how frustrating 812 00:54:17,760 --> 00:54:20,320 Speaker 1: it can be too. And you can look at Witton, 813 00:54:20,400 --> 00:54:22,319 Speaker 1: you can look at Sean lee a couple of guys 814 00:54:22,360 --> 00:54:25,000 Speaker 1: you were close to and say, look what they did. 815 00:54:25,040 --> 00:54:27,719 Speaker 1: Look at the price they paid and they never got 816 00:54:27,760 --> 00:54:30,440 Speaker 1: And now so here we are and we're good, Dad, 817 00:54:30,520 --> 00:54:33,120 Speaker 1: gum it, we're good and we know we're good. But 818 00:54:33,840 --> 00:54:36,600 Speaker 1: the young guys think that like you did as a rookie. 819 00:54:36,600 --> 00:54:39,200 Speaker 1: We're good, we know we're good. And you know what, 820 00:54:39,239 --> 00:54:41,600 Speaker 1: that doesn't mean anything. You got to you gotta be 821 00:54:41,640 --> 00:54:43,040 Speaker 1: good and then you gotta be better than the other 822 00:54:43,080 --> 00:54:45,480 Speaker 1: team the next day. It just seems to me to 823 00:54:45,520 --> 00:54:49,880 Speaker 1: be a difficult thing to balance to UM not have 824 00:54:50,040 --> 00:54:54,160 Speaker 1: the pressure become pressure. Dak always says pressure as a privilege, 825 00:54:54,560 --> 00:55:00,879 Speaker 1: and I wonder if you can apply that something like this. Yeah, 826 00:55:00,960 --> 00:55:03,160 Speaker 1: I mean I think, I mean I know, for me, 827 00:55:03,480 --> 00:55:06,399 Speaker 1: at least playing for to play in Dallas, I think 828 00:55:06,400 --> 00:55:10,160 Speaker 1: there's always UM. You know, pressure is nothing, nothing new 829 00:55:10,200 --> 00:55:11,880 Speaker 1: to the guys on our team, and it's something that 830 00:55:12,080 --> 00:55:15,320 Speaker 1: we go through, UM all year around, you know, the offseason, 831 00:55:15,360 --> 00:55:18,400 Speaker 1: everyone's talking about us the training camp, throughout the seasons, 832 00:55:18,440 --> 00:55:21,560 Speaker 1: after wins, after losses. So I think pressure comes with 833 00:55:21,600 --> 00:55:25,760 Speaker 1: the territory and UM, like Dak said, pressures of privilege. UM, 834 00:55:26,520 --> 00:55:28,120 Speaker 1: I just think this year, I mean not to say 835 00:55:28,120 --> 00:55:29,799 Speaker 1: that we haven't had in the past. But I just 836 00:55:30,840 --> 00:55:33,080 Speaker 1: this locker room and this team. I think everyone is 837 00:55:33,120 --> 00:55:36,680 Speaker 1: just locked in on on on what we need to do, 838 00:55:36,719 --> 00:55:40,000 Speaker 1: and I think everyone sees what we're capable of, and 839 00:55:40,840 --> 00:55:43,360 Speaker 1: we're all firing all cylinders how good we can be. 840 00:55:43,600 --> 00:55:47,680 Speaker 1: So I don't think pressure um is a negative for us. 841 00:55:47,719 --> 00:55:49,319 Speaker 1: I think it brings out the best in our group. 842 00:55:49,400 --> 00:55:52,920 Speaker 1: I think we have an extremely competitive team, and and 843 00:55:52,920 --> 00:55:54,520 Speaker 1: and I think it really does bring out the best 844 00:55:54,520 --> 00:55:57,239 Speaker 1: in us. And does the we've got a little less 845 00:55:57,239 --> 00:56:01,960 Speaker 1: than a minute left? Does h fourteen, sixteen, eighteen, Anything 846 00:56:02,000 --> 00:56:05,880 Speaker 1: about this run right now feels similar or different from 847 00:56:06,080 --> 00:56:13,839 Speaker 1: those three runs, you know, I think I think, uh, 848 00:56:14,239 --> 00:56:19,160 Speaker 1: you know, I think this year, you know, fourteen, it's 849 00:56:19,160 --> 00:56:23,200 Speaker 1: been obviously some years here, but sixteen was a pretty 850 00:56:23,200 --> 00:56:25,239 Speaker 1: smooth year if I remember, you know, we ran we 851 00:56:25,320 --> 00:56:29,440 Speaker 1: won eleven games straight, We had a couple of close games. 852 00:56:29,520 --> 00:56:32,439 Speaker 1: We were always kind of playing pretty consistently. I think 853 00:56:32,480 --> 00:56:35,040 Speaker 1: this year, which is going to work in our favor, 854 00:56:35,280 --> 00:56:37,960 Speaker 1: is we've you know, we've had some tough moments you had, 855 00:56:38,000 --> 00:56:39,600 Speaker 1: We've had some tough games, and we've had a kind 856 00:56:39,640 --> 00:56:41,920 Speaker 1: of overcome and win dirty late in the year, and 857 00:56:42,719 --> 00:56:45,200 Speaker 1: so I think that's going to help us moving forward 858 00:56:45,239 --> 00:56:47,880 Speaker 1: that maybe a little different this year. You're the best. 859 00:56:48,040 --> 00:56:50,760 Speaker 1: Thank you for your time. Appreciated by the way. Travis 860 00:56:50,800 --> 00:56:53,520 Speaker 1: texted me back, says Hi says he misses the show. 861 00:56:53,560 --> 00:56:56,399 Speaker 1: I don't believe, Zach Martin. Everybody, see you next week 862 00:56:56,440 --> 00:56:59,719 Speaker 1: on the Cowboys Hour. This has been a production of 863 00:57:00,040 --> 00:57:03,359 Speaker 1: Llascowboys dot Com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club.