1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Alright, really don't have anything to lead with good walk through. 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: We've got a couple of guys still that you might 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,400 Speaker 1: not see out there, Slayton and then Dickerson probably won't 4 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: make it this week. But other than that, UM, we'll 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: just see see how practice goes today. And as we 6 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 1: get going here, I'll sort of let the injury reports 7 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: speak for itself, UM, not trying to be cryptic about it. 8 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: If there's a big injury or something, we'll talk about it. 9 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: But if there's something that, um it's a guy that's 10 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: gonna end up being there on Sunday, I won't mess 11 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,959 Speaker 1: with it too much. So with that, let's uh. I'll 12 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: try to take your questions. Answer your questions that it 13 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: looks like you're gonna go into this with twenty two 14 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: stars who you probably would have thought two months ago 15 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: or a month ago would be your stars. So what 16 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: does that say about this process of keeping these guys healthy? 17 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: And how much is it easy Coach's mind knowing at 18 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,200 Speaker 1: least you're gonna go on with your best guys. Well, 19 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: I think that's important obviously to have what you consider 20 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: to be your best guys. We did have some tough 21 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: decisions at the end when we put the initial fifty 22 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: three together, some of the guys that are playing, you know, 23 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: missed portions of training camp. Um, you know, and I 24 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: think as you play through the season, it's important to 25 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: still keep practicing and you're obviously doing everything you can 26 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: each week to win that game. But it's a long journey, 27 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 1: as we know. I was Ezekiel Ellett signed today. What's 28 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 1: your reaction to that and how do you approach that now? No, 29 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: it's not a surprise that you know. I think that 30 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 1: just adds another outstanding player to what's really an outstanding offense. Again, 31 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: outstanding offensive line, an outstanding quarterback, got really outstanding receivers, 32 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: and they added Jason Witten back to the mix. So then, 33 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: you know, like I talked about, I guess it was 34 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:47,320 Speaker 1: on Monday, we have to defend that offense and they've 35 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: added another outstanding player to the mix. So, um, we'll 36 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: get ready to play. Do you address that with the team? 37 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: Did you? We always addressed we talked about all the 38 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: players that we're playing against every week. Pat Um, I 39 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: believe you have two injured quarterbacks Baker and oh gosh, 40 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: I forgot the other kid's name. Hamilton's Um, and they're 41 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: both listed I don't know unofficially as starter. This one 42 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: going to be ready to go or where do you 43 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: stand with it? Yeah, I think they'll be ready to 44 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: play and you'll see both of them in the game. 45 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: Pet tight ends last year gave you guys some trouble 46 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: with the inside linebacker coverage. Obviously, Waiting is one of 47 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: the best. If he's still what he was, How do 48 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: you guys, you know, improve against tight ends in coverage. Yeah, 49 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:39,239 Speaker 1: it's been a focus obviously schematically on defense to make 50 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: sure we take away the tight end when he's a 51 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,640 Speaker 1: primary target. Um. So you know, you just work on 52 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: it and then we have some things schematically that we 53 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: can do a little bit differently him to be the 54 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: guy he was before our year in the broadcast booth. Absolutely, 55 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: I think he's in. I saw him, you know, throughout 56 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 1: the year last year doing games. He looked pretty fit 57 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: to me. You know, I'm sure there were a lot 58 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: of teams that he broadcasted their games that offered him jobs. 59 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: I would imagine one of them. Uh No, But I 60 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,239 Speaker 1: like Jays and we have we have a good relationship. 61 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: He's where he belongs. He's a cowboy. How important is 62 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: this game for your team? I mean you sort of 63 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 1: like the litmus test even more than normally, just because 64 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: it seems like this is one of your top competitors 65 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: in the division. Do you do you look at it 66 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: that way. It's the first game of the year, and 67 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: we gotta put our best foot forward. We've got to 68 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: do everything in our power to beat Dallas, and that's 69 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: that's the importance of it, um, you know, And I 70 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: think it's important to tell the I tell the players 71 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: all the time it's it's the players, not the plays. 72 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: And so we got to get the players ready to 73 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: play and go do it. There's always some uncertainty in 74 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: the first game. You know, they probably lined up in 75 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: a formation and run the ball that they're now going 76 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: to throw all throw out of and they probably line 77 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: up in the formation and pass that they're going to 78 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: run out of it. You know, we all do all 79 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: those things. So it's important that we go play hard. 80 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: We play very fundamental, and we do all the things 81 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: that you need to do to win games. Take care 82 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:16,480 Speaker 1: of the football, defend the run effectively, you know, pressure 83 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: the passer, and then on the flip side, we gotta 84 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: score points when we get a chance. Do you with 85 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 1: the uncertainty with Zeke? Was there always just one scheme 86 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: for the Cowboys? Or does he add a wrinkle to 87 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 1: to the playbook that you you now need to add in. No, 88 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 1: I think you played team defense. You know, you're certainly 89 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: well aware where the outstanding players are on their team, 90 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: but they sort of simplify it for you because they 91 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: got outstanding players everywhere. So you play defense. And I 92 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 1: think this is the That's not the first time I've 93 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: been asked that question about Zeke, you know, and sort 94 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,840 Speaker 1: of like I was just talking to Pat halftime and 95 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: justments and the third preseason game is to tune up. 96 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,599 Speaker 1: You know, you are the dress rehearsal or whatever. You know, 97 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: you gotta play defense. You gotta play team defense, and 98 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 1: you've got to defend everything that the Cowboys presents. And 99 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: I just mentioned it's gonna be a big challenge. Defense 100 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: could be playing starting caliber snaps for a guy at 101 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: every level, a rookie Dexter Lawrence or Shane and and Baker. 102 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: How much of a challenge is this Cowboys offense right 103 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: out of the shoot for that young group, And are 104 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: you concerned about so many moving parts coming together at once. 105 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: You know, that's the tenth question about that. I mean, yeah, 106 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 1: they're very talented, and I think that's why we gotta 107 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: be really good and fundamental about what we do and 108 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: and buy into the team concept and then do the 109 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: very best you can when you're you're forced into matchups 110 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: with their best players. And so that's where it comes 111 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: down to the tactics on office or you know, certainly defensively, 112 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: and then the players playing their best. Much you'll be 113 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 1: willing to tell us, but you mentioned in the past 114 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: that you've done work on the Cowboys going back months. 115 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: The roster wasn't finalized until recently, so I'm just kind 116 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: of curious, you know, as they've changed, you know, how 117 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 1: is your preparation, if you will, behind the scenes kind 118 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: of progressing all the ways so that you're current with 119 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 1: what they're doing. Yeah, well, I think what's I'll just 120 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: give you a little background on what our off seasons 121 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 1: look like. So you know, we do projects on all 122 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: of our opponents. Once we know we know who they 123 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 1: are early in the in the in the in the deal, 124 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 1: we just don't know when and you know what weekend, 125 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: you know, so we know who we're gonna play, and 126 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 1: certainly we know who we're gonna play every year in 127 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: the division, so we work on it constantly. And so 128 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: there's certain plays and schemes that that you run in 129 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:50,479 Speaker 1: practice that you'd be you're gonna run against Dallas and 130 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 1: then Washington and the Eagles and so on and so um. 131 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 1: You know, I'm answering these questions with the idea that 132 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: we always work on things are important things that we 133 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 1: feel we're good at, but also how they apply to 134 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,480 Speaker 1: the teams we're gonna play. How much as dask game 135 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: progressive and see the same player he was two years ago, 136 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: or did you you see a different quarterback down? It's 137 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: just like any player. He's an outstanding player. And so 138 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: you know, early on he did a lot with his legs. 139 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 1: You know, I think he's you know, he appears to 140 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: me like he's more comfortable in the pocket. Um, he 141 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: can beat you from the pocket as well as running around. Um, 142 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: he's got that ability to that. A lot of quarterbacks 143 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: have the sixty yard checkdown where he breaks contain, he's 144 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: running around, he keeps his eyes down the field and 145 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: finds a guy wide open. That to me is is 146 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 1: a big challenge for a player like Dak and then 147 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: he can pull it down and run with it. And 148 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: he's built like a running back. So um, I think 149 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: he's you know, he's developed nicely for them. Yes, a 150 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 1: few years seven years from you guys have played Dallas now, 151 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: you know proceeding you obviously, um, giants winning with an 152 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: offensive line if you're not able to function at times. 153 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: I'm how confident to you that you guys got it 154 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 1: right this year with this group going into the first game, Well, 155 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: we made progress from a year ago and I'm looking 156 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: forward to seeing those guys compete. Um. I think we've 157 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: we've made progress. I feel like we're better up front 158 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: as a unit, and now we just gotta go do it. 159 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: You know, all this progress we're talking about now you 160 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: know the rubber is gonna hit the road here. We 161 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: gotta go play. You mentioned before that it's the players, 162 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: not the plays. Um, but you, as the play cooler. 163 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: Do you feel good about what you have at your 164 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: disposal that you can kind of run through your offense 165 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: as well as as you would hold going into a season. Sure? Yeah, 166 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: I really like our unit. I look forward to uh 167 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: trying to give them good stuff to work with and 168 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,079 Speaker 1: when I say, you know, the players not to play certainly, 169 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: you got it. I don't want, you know, let's not 170 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,719 Speaker 1: minimize the tactics involved. But I think what's important when 171 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: I say that is we gotta do everything we can 172 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: to help the players play fast and play well. And 173 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 1: I think that's what we gotta do with coaches. There's 174 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: a lot of plays that I'm fond of that our 175 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: guys would probably not run as well as uh they 176 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: would Those plays would be run when I was in Minnesota, 177 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: and so you kind of get away from some of that. 178 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: And so when you're thinking about the players, you try 179 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: to do the things that help accentuate what they can do. 180 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: With the giants, you know now that you could possibly 181 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: the first year or you know, I've certainly learned a 182 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 1: lot about the Cowboys of last year and this year. 183 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: You know where they're at. Um, their scheme is gonna 184 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: be a little bit different on offense, UM, I'm sure 185 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: they've held back on some things. UM, very similar on defense. 186 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 1: They're very active on defense at all three levels. But 187 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: when they're matched up, they can play extremely well. So yeah, 188 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: I got a good feel for who they are and 189 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:02,559 Speaker 1: they're an outstanding team. It came after a long offseason, UM, 190 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 1: a lot of talk about the line manning, where he 191 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: fits in his future and all this. Are you excited 192 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: to see him playing on Sunday? I am? I am 193 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 1: because I'm excited to see a continuation of what was 194 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 1: the back half of last season. I'm excited to see 195 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: that you. I mean, I asked Dave the same question. 196 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,839 Speaker 1: You keep talking about progress, Right, you're entering week one 197 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: of the new season. What do you would indicate progress 198 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: as you entered this season. We're always looking to win 199 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:36,079 Speaker 1: the game, you know. But within that, yeah, there re 200 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: qusil for you, like do you need do you need 201 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 1: to see them again? I don't. I'm not trying to 202 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 1: avoid that question. The progress is we've got to start 203 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: playing winning football.