WEBVTT - Cowboys Break: Explosiveness and Self-Awareness in Dallas 0:00:03.960 --> 0:00:06.440 The following is a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com 0:00:06.440 --> 0:00:08.039 and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. 0:00:10.360 --> 0:00:16.119 Cowboys, Let's go. 0:00:16.560 --> 0:00:18.279 Are you ready for a break? Yes? 0:00:18.560 --> 0:00:20.960 Are you ready for a break? Absolutely? 0:00:21.120 --> 0:00:23.079 Ready for a break? 0:00:23.200 --> 0:00:25.319 Yeah, And so much for that. 0:00:25.520 --> 0:00:29.760 It's time for The Break on Dallas Cowboys dot Com. 0:00:29.800 --> 0:00:31.400 We were right. 0:00:31.480 --> 0:00:37.680 With Mbar Garcia, Brian brought us, Patrick Walker and Derek Eagleton. 0:00:39.800 --> 0:00:43.479 It is Tuesday, September twenty sixth, twenty twenty three, Season nineteen, 0:00:43.479 --> 0:00:46.720 episode number thirty nine. Welcome to the latest edition of 0:00:46.760 --> 0:00:49.720 The Break. We are live from the SWBC Mortgage studios 0:00:49.760 --> 0:00:52.960 at the Star and it's Tuesday. So it's the data 0:00:53.040 --> 0:00:55.480 that we kind of make sense of all of the 0:00:55.520 --> 0:00:58.200 emotions that everyone has been feeling for the last twenty 0:00:58.200 --> 0:01:01.480 four hours. Following the game, Cowboys get the first loss 0:01:01.520 --> 0:01:03.480 of the season, and I think this is where we 0:01:03.480 --> 0:01:06.400 started to get some perspective and start to realize maybe 0:01:06.400 --> 0:01:08.560 they aren't as bad as everybody thinks they might be 0:01:08.720 --> 0:01:11.039 yesterday when they were high off emotion. 0:01:11.160 --> 0:01:12.200 But we'll see. 0:01:12.240 --> 0:01:14.160 We'll get out of our normal crew here today. 0:01:14.200 --> 0:01:17.360 We got Amber, Brian and Patrick ready to talk a 0:01:17.360 --> 0:01:19.840 little Cowboys football. Where I wanted to start it today though, 0:01:20.000 --> 0:01:23.280 is Mike McCarthy yesterday had a press conference. There were 0:01:23.319 --> 0:01:24.759 two quotes that he had that I want to throw 0:01:24.800 --> 0:01:26.920 out to you guys and just get your thoughts on them. 0:01:26.959 --> 0:01:30.400 The first one was with regard to play calling more 0:01:30.480 --> 0:01:33.000 running in the red zone laid in that game. His 0:01:33.160 --> 0:01:35.280 quote was, I wish I had been a little more 0:01:35.280 --> 0:01:38.440 aggressive in the passing game on first and second down. 0:01:38.600 --> 0:01:40.160 Patrick, you were also there at the press conference. 0:01:40.160 --> 0:01:43.720 Where are your thoughts on his reaction to the questioning 0:01:43.800 --> 0:01:46.399 around how he called the game there towards the end. 0:01:46.480 --> 0:01:49.840 You know what love I love when anyone takes accountability 0:01:49.960 --> 0:01:52.360 because it shows that they're willing to look at what 0:01:52.400 --> 0:01:54.200 they might have done wrong and then improve, and that 0:01:54.600 --> 0:01:57.400 that should give everyone a lot of optimism as far 0:01:57.480 --> 0:02:00.240 as the Cowboys improving in that aspect, because obviously going 0:02:00.280 --> 0:02:02.440 to be much different than a head coach standing up 0:02:02.440 --> 0:02:04.640 there in front of the fire and squad and saying, no, 0:02:04.800 --> 0:02:05.880 you know what I got this. 0:02:06.000 --> 0:02:09.160 We know he has been seeing to charge of the 0:02:09.919 --> 0:02:10.280 this year. 0:02:10.360 --> 0:02:13.959 You notice every time he talks he refers us himself 0:02:13.960 --> 0:02:15.640 and taking accountability. 0:02:15.040 --> 0:02:17.320 One hundred percent. So I love that he continues to 0:02:17.320 --> 0:02:19.800 take accountability. This is not something new for Mike McCarthy. 0:02:19.800 --> 0:02:23.200 He's been taking accountability, uh for a very long time now. 0:02:23.480 --> 0:02:25.360 I mean, look at Mike Nolan. He didn't last so 0:02:25.440 --> 0:02:26.520 took accountability for that. 0:02:26.560 --> 0:02:27.560 Moved on to Dan Quinn. 0:02:27.560 --> 0:02:29.400 But that wasn't a hard one. 0:02:29.520 --> 0:02:30.120 No, it wasn't. 0:02:30.360 --> 0:02:32.200 But he didn't that was one of his guys. He 0:02:32.240 --> 0:02:34.120 didn't have to put him to the acts. 0:02:34.160 --> 0:02:36.320 He could have said several coaches that were his that 0:02:36.400 --> 0:02:38.280 he had to take accountability for. 0:02:38.480 --> 0:02:39.040 Absolutely. 0:02:39.120 --> 0:02:42.560 So, I mean the accountability aspect of it, I love it. 0:02:42.560 --> 0:02:45.359 It tells me that the Cowboys are looking inside themselves 0:02:45.360 --> 0:02:48.560 and we should now expect to see. Like Ambar said yesterday, 0:02:48.560 --> 0:02:51.560 where's the creativity that's been kind of hitting from the 0:02:51.600 --> 0:02:53.760 media and we've not seen it through the first three weeks. 0:02:53.760 --> 0:02:56.480 So maybe this is a strong hint Amber that he 0:02:56.480 --> 0:02:59.520 heard you and he's willing to start mixing some things 0:02:59.520 --> 0:03:00.800 in into the red zone. 0:03:01.160 --> 0:03:01.359 Right. 0:03:02.760 --> 0:03:04.920 You know, if you look at Dak Prescott's numbers, I 0:03:04.960 --> 0:03:09.679 see why he ran the football. You know, Dak, there's 0:03:09.720 --> 0:03:12.200 some struggles with Dak throwing the football in the red zone. 0:03:12.280 --> 0:03:15.920 There's also some struggles with his accuracy. There's also some 0:03:15.960 --> 0:03:18.520 struggles with the receivers and their inability to get open 0:03:18.600 --> 0:03:21.160 and to win on the outside. You know, if you're 0:03:21.240 --> 0:03:24.080 one of those guys or gals that believes in numbers, 0:03:24.360 --> 0:03:26.920 you know, three of eleven for thirty five yards in 0:03:26.960 --> 0:03:29.359 the red zone passing, you know that's not going to 0:03:29.400 --> 0:03:32.440 get it done. And you know, maybe Mike is and 0:03:32.480 --> 0:03:36.000 we saw an interception there late. That's another thing you 0:03:36.040 --> 0:03:39.360 have to account for right there. You know, his offensive line. 0:03:39.520 --> 0:03:41.680 Maybe he thought he was a little bit compromised there. 0:03:42.280 --> 0:03:44.680 But to me, there's a lot of things that factor. 0:03:44.760 --> 0:03:47.320 I think the Arizona Cardinals played really well down there, 0:03:48.200 --> 0:03:50.560 but this is something that they're going to have to 0:03:50.680 --> 0:03:53.880 figure out. And we've talked about it before that there's 0:03:53.920 --> 0:03:58.280 been problems at times with the blocking guys making mistakes, 0:03:58.800 --> 0:04:02.200 but sometimes you just get covered. But quarterbacks got to 0:04:02.240 --> 0:04:05.520 be better down there, Head coach, play callers got to 0:04:05.560 --> 0:04:08.800 be better down there. You know, the creativity part of it. 0:04:09.200 --> 0:04:11.960 I think there's things that they've tried to do. You know, 0:04:12.000 --> 0:04:14.200 when you say, you know the creativity of trying to 0:04:14.280 --> 0:04:18.640 run an option with Ceedee Lamb is nice when it works. 0:04:18.920 --> 0:04:21.480 It's real nice when it doesn't. Work it. It's like, 0:04:21.520 --> 0:04:23.880 what are you doing that for? So there's a lot 0:04:23.920 --> 0:04:27.000 of things that they need to focus on to try 0:04:27.040 --> 0:04:31.120 and make sure that the issues that they've struggled with, 0:04:31.640 --> 0:04:35.480 the routes, the quarterback, the play caller all are cleaned 0:04:35.560 --> 0:04:40.479 up before they get into as we go through this season. 0:04:41.600 --> 0:04:45.240 Yeah, and he did mention yesterday. I mean, they're very 0:04:45.279 --> 0:04:48.360 well aware of everything. And he did mention how they 0:04:48.600 --> 0:04:53.200 lead the league on drives and they're able to move 0:04:53.279 --> 0:04:57.400 the ball and the most important thing is getting down there. 0:04:57.440 --> 0:05:00.720 But more important than that is now exit cuting and 0:05:01.680 --> 0:05:04.599 actually getting into the end zone. And it's good when 0:05:04.600 --> 0:05:08.800 you hear everybody talking about that, Steven Jones on the fan, 0:05:09.760 --> 0:05:14.800 everybody being well aware of where their issues are and 0:05:14.839 --> 0:05:17.760 then trying to focus and dedicate more time this week 0:05:17.880 --> 0:05:20.800 as far as preparation and trying to get better in that. 0:05:21.279 --> 0:05:24.240 We know they have the talent, they have weapons that 0:05:24.279 --> 0:05:28.080 they can utilize. Now it's actually applying it and making 0:05:28.120 --> 0:05:28.640 it work. 0:05:29.880 --> 0:05:30.400 But it's good. 0:05:30.560 --> 0:05:33.920 I love it when I hear people take accountability mention. 0:05:34.040 --> 0:05:38.600 It's not like Jalen Smith type of vibe, you know, 0:05:38.720 --> 0:05:43.960 it's more like you take it. So anyways, hopefully we 0:05:44.040 --> 0:05:48.120 see some progress this week, because again, one of the 0:05:48.160 --> 0:05:52.600 things that was mentioned when not Kellen Moore Mike McCarthy 0:05:52.720 --> 0:05:56.479 was taking over the play calling was how good of 0:05:56.480 --> 0:05:59.760 a play caller he is and how he can be creative. 0:06:00.520 --> 0:06:03.640 We're waiting to see that and hopefully it happens this weekend. 0:06:04.120 --> 0:06:06.880 All right, Let's look at another quote that he had yesterday. 0:06:06.880 --> 0:06:09.600 He said, this was in regard to the vertical passing game. 0:06:10.320 --> 0:06:13.560 He said that might have been a slight overreaction by 0:06:13.600 --> 0:06:16.760 me based on having the three new starters up front. Brian, 0:06:16.760 --> 0:06:19.479 you had mentioned that earlier and yesterday you said, you know, 0:06:19.960 --> 0:06:22.039 I kind of think he kind of just was worried 0:06:22.040 --> 0:06:24.720 a little bit more about those those those offensive linemen. 0:06:24.760 --> 0:06:25.839 What were your thoughts on this comment. 0:06:25.920 --> 0:06:29.480 The second sack that that they gave up, as they 0:06:29.720 --> 0:06:31.960 we talked about yesterday, was a double move on the 0:06:31.960 --> 0:06:36.279 outside and and Marco Wilson didn't bite and dak is 0:06:36.320 --> 0:06:39.920 either got to let that thing fly or he's you know, 0:06:40.000 --> 0:06:42.920 he's gotta, he's gotta. You know, it's one of those 0:06:42.920 --> 0:06:45.159 things you can't I mean, you can't hold the ball 0:06:45.200 --> 0:06:47.599 in that situation. You just let it go, throw it 0:06:47.600 --> 0:06:49.440 out of bounce, throw it over their heads, throw it 0:06:49.480 --> 0:06:52.680 too far. But you know it, we had a couple 0:06:52.720 --> 0:06:55.080 of problems there, and you had a problem with with 0:06:55.200 --> 0:06:57.560 the DOGA. He was beaten on the on the play 0:06:57.600 --> 0:07:00.760 to the outside, and then also TJ was beaten on 0:07:00.800 --> 0:07:02.839 the inside. So Dak really didn't have a place to 0:07:03.279 --> 0:07:05.400 If he can climb the pocket, maybe he can make 0:07:05.440 --> 0:07:08.120 the throw. But on that particular thing, you know, by 0:07:08.160 --> 0:07:11.680 holding the ball, you're presenting yourself some problems there. And 0:07:11.800 --> 0:07:14.880 maybe McCarthy after that play said, listen, I can't throw 0:07:14.920 --> 0:07:16.960 the ball down the field. I can't even try a 0:07:16.960 --> 0:07:20.680 double move here, you know, with with with my guys, 0:07:20.760 --> 0:07:23.880 because of the stuff with the offensive line. You know, 0:07:23.960 --> 0:07:26.040 those sometimes those things will scare you if you go 0:07:26.120 --> 0:07:28.640 into the game thinking you're going to have problems and 0:07:28.680 --> 0:07:30.640 then you give up a couple of sacks like that. 0:07:31.000 --> 0:07:33.600 The other sack was just, you know, just a nice 0:07:33.680 --> 0:07:37.240 read by Arizona. But you know, to me, that was 0:07:37.720 --> 0:07:39.720 that might have been the thing that kind of scared 0:07:39.800 --> 0:07:41.960 him a little bit of not wanting to try anything 0:07:41.960 --> 0:07:42.840 else down the field. 0:07:42.920 --> 0:07:45.520 Yeah, it definitely made him gun shy. And even though 0:07:45.600 --> 0:07:48.200 like we talked about yesterday, after those couple of sacks 0:07:48.240 --> 0:07:50.840 and you had a couple of penalties to credit credit 0:07:50.880 --> 0:07:53.440 it to the offensive line, but for the most part, 0:07:53.640 --> 0:07:55.880 they kind of locked up and they took care of 0:07:56.080 --> 0:07:58.200 business for the most part of the game. So I 0:07:58.200 --> 0:08:00.000 think at that point it would have been a part 0:08:00.000 --> 0:08:02.760 perfect chance for McCarthy to kind of settle down as 0:08:02.760 --> 0:08:05.480 far as his apprehension with that offensive line and say, hey, okay, 0:08:05.560 --> 0:08:08.080 let's try to give these guys another shot to protect 0:08:08.160 --> 0:08:10.200 on a seven step drop, a five step drop, and 0:08:10.240 --> 0:08:12.080 then let's see what we can do with the vertical game. 0:08:12.600 --> 0:08:15.200 But then there's another aspect of it that I kind 0:08:15.200 --> 0:08:18.239 of wondered, and I know several people were wondering as well, well, 0:08:18.960 --> 0:08:20.960 why was Chuma not And we talked about it. 0:08:21.000 --> 0:08:21.760 We touched on it yesterday. 0:08:21.800 --> 0:08:23.880 Why was Chuma not at left guard and Tyler Smith 0:08:23.920 --> 0:08:25.960 not popped out the left tackle, which probably would have 0:08:25.960 --> 0:08:28.120 given you better pass pro and then you could have 0:08:28.200 --> 0:08:31.280 gotten those deep shots down the field. And Mike McCarthy 0:08:31.320 --> 0:08:34.360 was asked about it yesterday, and basically it came down 0:08:34.400 --> 0:08:38.199 to them being unsure about Tyron Smith going into that 0:08:38.280 --> 0:08:41.480 game because all last week Tyler Smith took reps at 0:08:41.559 --> 0:08:42.000 left guard. 0:08:42.040 --> 0:08:42.960 That was the game plan. 0:08:43.000 --> 0:08:45.600 That was the game plan, and McCarthy just was completely 0:08:45.679 --> 0:08:49.640 uncomfortable with on Sunday, an hour or so before kickoff, saying, 0:08:49.640 --> 0:08:52.040 you know what, Tyler, we're going to switch this whole 0:08:52.080 --> 0:08:54.160 game plan. You go up, because that might not have 0:08:54.600 --> 0:08:56.600 ended well, even though we know Tyler Smith has the 0:08:56.600 --> 0:08:59.640 ability to do it. But that's a different circumstance. So 0:09:00.320 --> 0:09:04.079 a lot of things that made McCarthy apprehensive about that 0:09:04.679 --> 0:09:07.640 offensive line. I mean, you're down three starters, that's seventeen 0:09:07.679 --> 0:09:10.120 Pro Bowls, two Hall of Famers. I could see why 0:09:10.120 --> 0:09:12.319 he would be nervous, and to Brian's point, especially when 0:09:12.320 --> 0:09:14.319 you see sack number one and then sacked number two 0:09:14.320 --> 0:09:15.960 and then you start thinking, okay, we're going to have 0:09:16.000 --> 0:09:19.640 to adapt to shortening the field and trying to play 0:09:19.679 --> 0:09:22.960 a little bit more laterally than down the field. So 0:09:23.200 --> 0:09:26.280 a lot went into it. But again, accountability. He didn't 0:09:26.280 --> 0:09:28.120 have to say that, right, He didn't have to step 0:09:28.200 --> 0:09:30.240 up there and say it's on me. I was a 0:09:30.280 --> 0:09:33.200 little bit overreacted, So kudos to him for doing it, 0:09:33.240 --> 0:09:36.240 for saying that. But hopefully this is not a situation 0:09:36.320 --> 0:09:39.800 that we will see going forward as far as the 0:09:39.920 --> 0:09:43.640 lack of verticality in the Cowboys offense and or the 0:09:43.679 --> 0:09:46.480 fact that they're missing two or three starting offensive line 0:09:46.480 --> 0:09:47.760 and hopefully could get them back. 0:09:47.800 --> 0:09:48.040 Hold. 0:09:48.200 --> 0:09:49.760 I don't want to be a doom and gloom guy 0:09:49.760 --> 0:09:52.760 on this, but with the way this offensive line is, 0:09:52.800 --> 0:09:55.680 with the age and a couple of guys, I think 0:09:55.720 --> 0:09:58.120 now and McCarthy the one thing that I that you 0:09:58.160 --> 0:10:00.480 talked about taking accountability for something, and I don't know 0:10:00.480 --> 0:10:02.520 if you're going to get to it, but the fact 0:10:02.520 --> 0:10:04.400 that he feels like he's got to get his backup 0:10:04.440 --> 0:10:07.440 guys more work. You know, when they when they run 0:10:08.040 --> 0:10:11.320 a script at practice and they have eight plays committed 0:10:11.400 --> 0:10:15.440 to red zone and the starters get seven and the 0:10:15.600 --> 0:10:20.400 backups get one, you better now think about okay, instead 0:10:20.400 --> 0:10:23.000 of that, maybe it needs to be a three to 0:10:23.120 --> 0:10:25.640 five split. You know, maybe we need to know. And 0:10:25.640 --> 0:10:29.360 that's something he admitted that and I think there's a 0:10:29.360 --> 0:10:31.600 lot of people that can take a lesson from that. 0:10:31.720 --> 0:10:34.960 Coaches around the league that you know, you don't get 0:10:34.960 --> 0:10:38.960 your backups enough work. But with this organization, the way 0:10:39.000 --> 0:10:42.439 this team is and the age you have at certain positions, 0:10:43.440 --> 0:10:46.559 you better get your backups work because this is that 0:10:47.120 --> 0:10:49.959 was the absolute worst thing that can happen to you. 0:10:50.440 --> 0:10:52.760 Of coming up on a Friday or a Saturday and 0:10:52.880 --> 0:10:56.120 three guys being out. Now you knew Zach Martin didn't 0:10:56.120 --> 0:10:59.560 practice all week, be oddish, But this whole thing, as 0:10:59.600 --> 0:11:02.320 long as Tyron Smith is going to play left tackle, 0:11:02.880 --> 0:11:05.320 you have to be prepared that he might wake up 0:11:05.480 --> 0:11:08.200 with a back problem or a shoulder problem, or a 0:11:08.240 --> 0:11:12.000 knee problem or something pops up here. And so to me, 0:11:12.320 --> 0:11:15.800 I that's the accountability thing I appreciate the most about 0:11:15.840 --> 0:11:17.800 with him. I've got to do a better job of 0:11:17.840 --> 0:11:20.280 getting my backups ready so I have confidence that I 0:11:20.320 --> 0:11:21.640 could play with them on a Sunday. 0:11:21.720 --> 0:11:24.880 Well, here's the thing for me, And that's the tough 0:11:25.360 --> 0:11:27.760 part of the job. It's a very difficult thing to 0:11:27.840 --> 0:11:31.520 do because it's easy for anyone to sit and watch 0:11:31.600 --> 0:11:35.480 and criticize all of it, and you can't win either way. 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:39.280 On one hand, you got your guys here for a reason. 0:11:39.400 --> 0:11:43.680 You have backups for a reason. They're here because you think, 0:11:43.720 --> 0:11:46.800 at some point, if needed, they can play for you 0:11:46.840 --> 0:11:50.200 and help you. So on one hand, you got to 0:11:50.240 --> 0:11:52.240 go in trusting your team. 0:11:52.280 --> 0:11:54.160 You got to go in believing that you. 0:11:54.080 --> 0:11:58.280 Can absolutely do everything that you need to do and 0:11:58.400 --> 0:12:01.920 think that with every inch of your body, because otherwise, 0:12:01.960 --> 0:12:04.360 if you fight the other way, you're gonna most likely 0:12:04.520 --> 0:12:07.000 lose you if you got to get on the field, 0:12:07.120 --> 0:12:10.280 fight for your life. This is war and we're gonna 0:12:10.280 --> 0:12:13.880 die trying. But on the other hand, that's where it's tough. 0:12:14.240 --> 0:12:18.640 You gotta be self aware. Okay, yes, obviously I'm not 0:12:18.640 --> 0:12:19.760 saying let's go die on there. 0:12:19.840 --> 0:12:21.720 No, there's some people that are cussing you right now. 0:12:22.000 --> 0:12:22.400 Go ahead. 0:12:23.640 --> 0:12:24.559 Did I say something back? 0:12:24.600 --> 0:12:24.760 No? 0:12:24.760 --> 0:12:28.160 No, No, you're they were going to cuss anyway, do. 0:12:28.200 --> 0:12:31.680 You Well, I hope I didn't say anything offensive, Okay, okay, 0:12:31.760 --> 0:12:33.720 because I'm not trying to be offensive, or I don't 0:12:33.760 --> 0:12:38.040 know if I missed, I'm sorry, okay. On the other hand, 0:12:38.240 --> 0:12:41.000 that's where it becomes difficult because you do have to 0:12:41.040 --> 0:12:43.920 be self aware too, and and be aware of the 0:12:43.960 --> 0:12:47.040 things that you can't cannot do. Be aware of you're 0:12:47.080 --> 0:12:49.640 in week three heading into week four. You got to 0:12:49.640 --> 0:12:53.000 protect your quarterback. You gotta protect the other guys as well, 0:12:53.320 --> 0:12:56.440 and so it's just it's a tough balance because you 0:12:56.480 --> 0:12:59.280 want to criticize one way and some fine sometimes I 0:12:59.360 --> 0:13:04.400 find myself being like, well, you gotta keep trying. You 0:13:04.480 --> 0:13:06.720 got to go out there and fight. But at the 0:13:06.760 --> 0:13:10.600 same time, it's like, Okay, I can be understanding of 0:13:11.240 --> 0:13:14.040 the other side of it and seeing his perspective of 0:13:14.080 --> 0:13:15.200 how things played out. 0:13:15.240 --> 0:13:17.520 So it's just it's a tough job. 0:13:17.559 --> 0:13:18.120 You know something. 0:13:18.160 --> 0:13:20.079 I actually, Brian, you and I were talking before we 0:13:20.080 --> 0:13:23.400 went on the air. I was able to furiously put 0:13:23.440 --> 0:13:26.880 together some numbers real quick on the breakdown of the 0:13:27.000 --> 0:13:31.480 yardage of passes that they've been throwing through three games 0:13:31.520 --> 0:13:33.240 and relate that back to last year, because I think 0:13:33.280 --> 0:13:35.560 that's the talk right now is are they taking less 0:13:35.600 --> 0:13:37.920 deep shots this year with this new offense than they 0:13:37.960 --> 0:13:39.960 did before? He was an interesting thing. I think it 0:13:40.000 --> 0:13:42.839 goes both ways. The interesting thing is they're not taking 0:13:42.920 --> 0:13:45.360 less deep shots. Last year, they took on average two 0:13:45.400 --> 0:13:47.880 deep shots per game, and that would be twenty plus 0:13:47.960 --> 0:13:50.560 yards right This year they're averaging two point three of 0:13:50.600 --> 0:13:53.640 those per game, so actually taking just as many sea 0:13:53.720 --> 0:13:56.480 shots as he did last year. Then if you look 0:13:56.520 --> 0:13:59.480 at the ten to twenty yard right intermediate stuff that's 0:13:59.520 --> 0:14:02.000 where they were last year is about five point seven 0:14:02.080 --> 0:14:04.680 per game. This year they're taking five per game. So 0:14:04.960 --> 0:14:07.400 just to tad under what they were doing last year. 0:14:07.480 --> 0:14:10.240 Here's where it gets interesting, though. It's the volume, it's 0:14:10.320 --> 0:14:12.320 the percentage. That's why it feels like they're not taking 0:14:12.320 --> 0:14:13.920 as many deep shots. It's because if you look at 0:14:13.920 --> 0:14:17.880 their their zero to nine yards, they did eleven point 0:14:17.880 --> 0:14:20.560 eight last year. This year they're doing sixteen point seven 0:14:20.600 --> 0:14:23.680 passes per game in that range, right, so a significant 0:14:23.920 --> 0:14:26.760 more significant game more passes in that zero to nine 0:14:26.880 --> 0:14:30.120 Here's the even bigger one behind the line of scrimmage. 0:14:30.200 --> 0:14:33.600 Last year, they averaged three point three passes per game 0:14:33.800 --> 0:14:36.560 behind the line of scrimmage. This year eight point three 0:14:36.600 --> 0:14:38.840 per game behind the line of scrimmage. So it's not 0:14:38.880 --> 0:14:41.000 that they're not taking the deep shots. It's just they're 0:14:41.040 --> 0:14:43.600 doing so much more of that behind the line of scrimmage. 0:14:43.720 --> 0:14:46.000 So much more of game, yes, so much more of 0:14:46.000 --> 0:14:48.320 that zero to nine yards. They're just doing more of that, 0:14:48.600 --> 0:14:50.640 and it makes it feel like they're not going deep, 0:14:50.680 --> 0:14:52.520 but they're taking the same number of shots as they 0:14:52.560 --> 0:14:53.280 took last year. 0:14:54.040 --> 0:14:55.440 I think it goes I mean, like you said, a 0:14:55.440 --> 0:14:57.600 lot of it goes to just perception versus what the 0:14:57.640 --> 0:15:01.239 actual numbers bear out. So when you look the verticality, 0:15:01.280 --> 0:15:02.880 and we talked about it, and you know, you talk 0:15:02.920 --> 0:15:04.880 about this shot the CD LAMB that was successful. 0:15:04.920 --> 0:15:06.400 I mean they're taking the shots. 0:15:06.800 --> 0:15:09.080 I think it's just a matter of efficiency as far 0:15:09.080 --> 0:15:11.440 as production is concerned. How many of those deep shots 0:15:11.600 --> 0:15:14.960 are yielding, you know, actual completions. And then look at 0:15:15.000 --> 0:15:18.160 the situation because situational football, how many of those shots 0:15:18.200 --> 0:15:21.040 are in situations where it sways momentum one way or 0:15:21.040 --> 0:15:23.520 another in the game. And it feels over the first 0:15:23.600 --> 0:15:27.880 three games that they're down in those categories. As as 0:15:28.040 --> 0:15:30.320 you relate that to last season, what's. 0:15:30.280 --> 0:15:32.920 Interesting you asked the right me throw it out there 0:15:32.960 --> 0:15:37.560 for you. Okay, so last year you love it, I 0:15:37.600 --> 0:15:38.360 love this next year. 0:15:38.480 --> 0:15:38.640 Yeah. 0:15:38.680 --> 0:15:40.320 Let me and Brian have been all over this thing. 0:15:40.600 --> 0:15:43.400 But when you start looking at the twenty plus yard 0:15:43.480 --> 0:15:46.080 passes last year on the left and right side, they 0:15:46.120 --> 0:15:48.440 actually did really well. He had a one to forty 0:15:48.440 --> 0:15:51.480 three point seventy five rating on the right side. He 0:15:51.520 --> 0:15:53.520 had a one thirty two point two to one rating 0:15:53.680 --> 0:15:54.600 on the left side. 0:15:54.880 --> 0:15:56.280 Not so good in the middle of the field. 0:15:56.280 --> 0:15:58.240 They were only two of twelve in the middle of 0:15:58.240 --> 0:16:01.080 the field twenty plus yards with an eleven point eight 0:16:01.080 --> 0:16:01.640 to one rating. 0:16:01.840 --> 0:16:03.000 Now here's what you if you want a. 0:16:03.000 --> 0:16:05.640 Juxtae, that's where some of your turnovers well, exactly a 0:16:05.840 --> 0:16:07.920 solutionary that was a problem for them last year middle 0:16:07.960 --> 0:16:10.680 diddle the field right, but this year they have not 0:16:10.720 --> 0:16:11.880 taken a single shot in. 0:16:11.840 --> 0:16:15.080 The deep middle at all, not at all. But even 0:16:15.120 --> 0:16:17.600 on the outside they haven't been as good. They're one 0:16:17.600 --> 0:16:19.960 of three on the left side twenty plus and they're 0:16:20.000 --> 0:16:22.080 two of four on the right side twenty plus, so 0:16:22.160 --> 0:16:25.000 haven't been as successful and they have no touchdowns. 0:16:25.520 --> 0:16:26.640 But they're taking the shot. 0:16:26.720 --> 0:16:28.720 They're taking the shots, but it hasn't been as successful 0:16:28.720 --> 0:16:30.520 for them this year. This might go back to your point, Brian, 0:16:30.560 --> 0:16:34.520 two of are the receivers in position? Are they getting 0:16:34.600 --> 0:16:37.280 enough separation? Is the quarterback getting the ball way needs 0:16:37.320 --> 0:16:39.560 to get it. It's not as effective as it was 0:16:39.720 --> 0:16:41.320 last year, but they're taking the shots. 0:16:41.400 --> 0:16:42.920 It's just not hasn't been as successful. 0:16:44.120 --> 0:16:45.240 I mean you answered the question. 0:16:45.480 --> 0:16:47.200 I mean that that's basically where I was leading to 0:16:47.240 --> 0:16:49.600 it with was you know, yes they're taking the shots, 0:16:49.640 --> 0:16:52.400 but what's the percentage level of success? And you answered 0:16:52.400 --> 0:16:54.480 it magnificently. Shout out to nixt Gen stats because they're 0:16:54.520 --> 0:16:56.480 all over this stuff. Let me in, by the way, 0:16:57.800 --> 0:17:00.440 But yeah, I mean, so that's that's what Cowboys, fans 0:17:00.640 --> 0:17:03.840 and analysts are seen and or not seen. So the 0:17:03.920 --> 0:17:07.160 shots are there, but the plays are not being made 0:17:07.240 --> 0:17:09.480 when the shots are being taken. But then you also 0:17:09.560 --> 0:17:11.480 have to mix in the aspect of when you have 0:17:11.560 --> 0:17:14.320 the head coach who readily admits that he didn't give 0:17:14.400 --> 0:17:17.200 his backups enough reps in practice last week and he said, 0:17:17.240 --> 0:17:19.960 you know what, you brought up preparation yesterday. You wondered 0:17:20.000 --> 0:17:22.240 if they were prepared. Well, Mike McCarthy still on that 0:17:22.280 --> 0:17:24.760 podium yesterday and basically admitted that his backups were not 0:17:24.800 --> 0:17:26.080 as prepared as he would have liked. 0:17:26.119 --> 0:17:28.240 And he owned that. So that answers that question. 0:17:28.560 --> 0:17:31.440 So when you start to hear things like that, hopefully 0:17:31.480 --> 0:17:33.400 if there's a situation where the backups need to play 0:17:33.440 --> 0:17:36.679 again Mike McCarthy is less apprehensive, they will, right and 0:17:36.720 --> 0:17:40.560 then okay, and then when the shots are being taken, 0:17:40.800 --> 0:17:44.920 hopefully those turned into catches as opposed to pass breakups 0:17:45.080 --> 0:17:47.439 or sale throws or whatever the case may be. So 0:17:47.480 --> 0:17:49.960 it goes to execution, it goes to preparation. You can't 0:17:50.000 --> 0:17:51.840 have both of those things going wrong at the same time. 0:17:51.840 --> 0:17:53.240 All right, we're going to take our first break. We 0:17:53.280 --> 0:17:55.159 come back, I'm and ask these guys this question. There 0:17:55.200 --> 0:17:57.800 were three areas that we talked about yesterday with the 0:17:57.800 --> 0:18:01.240 Cowboys had some challenges run defense, penal, these red zone offense. 0:18:01.280 --> 0:18:03.479 I'm gonna ask you, guys, which do you think at 0:18:03.520 --> 0:18:05.439 the larger impact on the game and which do you 0:18:05.480 --> 0:18:07.720 think is going to have the potential to be a 0:18:07.760 --> 0:18:11.000 problem going forward that the Cowboys need to address more 0:18:11.040 --> 0:18:12.520 readily than the others. We'll talk about that when we 0:18:12.560 --> 0:18:14.240 come back to the Stoubts Cowboys dot Com Radio. 0:18:15.560 --> 0:18:17.320 Todd thought it would be secure to jog in the 0:18:17.359 --> 0:18:20.280 cheetah Savannah. Todd believed the big Cat repellent he bought 0:18:20.320 --> 0:18:23.240 online was reliable. And now Todd is trying to be 0:18:23.280 --> 0:18:25.920 faster than this cheetah that can run eighty miles per hour. 0:18:26.560 --> 0:18:28.280