1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,400 Speaker 1: Right now, let's turn our attention to Cowboys executive vice 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: president Stephen Jones. Good morning, sir, Good morning Gas. Great 3 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,040 Speaker 1: to be on. Well, we're glad to have you on 4 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: for another season. Glad we got to see you in 5 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: person and sit down and talk with you out in Oxnard. 6 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: We were just having a conversation about the defense and 7 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 1: the defensive depth and I've heard the discussion from Mike 8 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: McCarthy about how y'all flipped this season. What are your 9 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: anticipations for the Cowboys defense this year and if they 10 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: are positive, can you tell us more about why that is? Yeah, 11 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: I think in general, I've been pretty consistent all during 12 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 1: training camp that I think it starts with Mike hiring 13 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:46,519 Speaker 1: of bank Point. He's just brought a tremendous amount of 14 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: energy to the room. He's got, you know, I think, 15 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: a great defensive mind in terms of what it takes 16 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: to be successful. And he's a great communicator, not only 17 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: with our players but with our coaches. Communicate well. You 18 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: can see them on the field. They're communicating well on 19 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:09,399 Speaker 1: the field with one another, and they're playing fast, you know, 20 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: with the great play style and uh and then you 21 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: throw that in with the resources we threw at our 22 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: defense in free agency, in particular the defensive line. Obviously 23 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: brought in Kazee and Hooker as well. But uh, and 24 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 1: then you know, the focus on defense and the draft. 25 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: I just really think, you know that we can turn 26 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: the corner here. We had good players on defense before 27 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: the draft, I mean, going into last season, and I 28 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: just think, you know, we tried to make a change 29 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: that ended up proving to be difficult. So just feel 30 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: really good that we can just as we unfortunately went 31 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: to a defense that wasn't very good, I think we 32 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: can turn that narrative and be a top half the 33 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: league defense with some serious outside Yeah, Stephen, we were 34 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 1: just kind of discussing jibro Cox and your rookie class 35 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: that you got here, and it seems like speed was 36 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: a big factor in what y'all added to this team. 37 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: Were you expecting these guys to be able to make 38 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: this quick of a move the way they have we did? 39 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: I mean, we felt good where we picked him in 40 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: the draft. You know, I think anytime you're picking players 41 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: in your top four rounds, you're hoping, you know, they 42 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: can come in and be productive. It doesn't happen. But 43 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: in the Pickularkay had a vision for him as a 44 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: sub linebacker to start out. I think the only reason 45 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 1: he fell was you know, question marks about maybe physicality 46 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: in the box. But he was a great coverage linebacker 47 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,239 Speaker 1: and he's proven to be that and I think he's 48 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 1: only going to get better and throw him in with 49 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 1: my co course, who I think, you know, fortune fell 50 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 1: in our lap and we ended up Obviously we were 51 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 1: focused on corners, but they went off the board and 52 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: that's what happens. I think when you stick with your board, 53 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,640 Speaker 1: good things will happen. Togging, having Micael fall in our 54 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: lap there was, you know, really important, and then of 55 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: course getting the two defensive lineman. We haven't seeing him yet, 56 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: but we're sure excited to get him out on the field. 57 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 1: And Chauncey Golston and then of course Osa. You know, 58 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 1: he's making a great push to be a starter on 59 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: day one. So Stephen, it looks like you got two 60 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: very good prospects at the cornerback spot. Just from a 61 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: fan's perspective, it seems like Right is outperforming Joseph so 62 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 1: far in training camp slash preseason games. How would you 63 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 1: evaluate your two young cornerbacks just that. I mean, I 64 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: think they're I think they're neck and neck. I certainly 65 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,119 Speaker 1: halts off to Anthony Brown. He's fending them off and 66 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: just having a great camp on his better camps he's had. 67 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: Of course, Trevon Diggs is over there and trenched as 68 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: our number one corner. But it's great to look out 69 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: there and see those young guys competing. I wouldn't necessarily 70 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: give either one of them the advantage that. Obviously the 71 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: reason we drafted Nashan Low was this great length. And 72 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: then of course uh fat as as we like to 73 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 1: call him as just having a great camp and uh 74 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: great speed, uh you know, great suddenness, can make plays 75 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: on the ball, and H just think that's going to 76 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: be a great competition throughout the season, and as we 77 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: all know, you can't have enough enough of those. And 78 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 1: then there at Nicol it's been a great battle between 79 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 1: Jordan Lewis and Kennedy. So it's a you know, it's 80 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: you know, from top to bottom, whether it's our front, 81 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: whether it's our defensive line front, whether it's our linebackers 82 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: or secondary. It's been very competitive to be on this 83 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 1: fifty three man roster on defense. Well, along those lines, 84 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: you know the talk about you can never have enough cornerbacks, 85 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: and we'll hear the same thing about defensive lineman, offensive lineman. 86 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: How much do y'all when your roster building look at 87 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: the backup quarterback spot and really want, whether it's Cooper Rush, 88 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 1: whether it's Garrett Gilbert, to put their stamp on it 89 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: and say I'm the guy, so y'all can go with 90 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:06,799 Speaker 1: hopefully two quarterbacks and go along in other positions. Well, 91 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: I just think that's all a work in progress that 92 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: we'll be figuring out here over the next week. Certainly, 93 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: Cooper made a big push here this week, you know 94 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 1: this against the Texans there on Sunday, and uh, I 95 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,840 Speaker 1: think he had you know, did a great job. And 96 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 1: I mean on Saturday, and you know, really, I think 97 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,559 Speaker 1: I really took a big step maybe toward getting that job. 98 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: But we'll see here as the week progresses how that 99 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 1: works out. And uh, certainly, when we get into juggling numbers, 100 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: you'll look at the quality of each player, and if 101 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: we decide to go long or short of a position, 102 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: that's certainly something you know that we'll be willing to do. 103 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: When when you're looking at your offensive line, are you 104 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 1: are you happy or would you want a little bit 105 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: more from the depth on this offensive line at the moment? 106 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: You know, actually we're pleased there. You know, Naseki is 107 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: one of those guys that we picked up. You know, 108 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: every year we pick up a better and to kind 109 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: of fill that swing tackle role. But uh, you know, 110 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 1: Steele has really benefited from his experience last year, a 111 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: big offseason in the weight room and and is really 112 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:17,119 Speaker 1: pushing there. And so you've got two tackles. Obviously, Connor 113 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: McGovern's done a lot of good things. I think he 114 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: sometimes it feels like he plays quite a bit better 115 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,919 Speaker 1: at right guard than left guard. I mean that's not 116 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 1: as easy as some people may may think it is 117 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: to be able to switch around like that. And then 118 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: I think Connor has done a lot of good things 119 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: at at center as well. To give us some versatility there. 120 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: He's got to you know, clean up some of his 121 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: snap accuracy on a couple of on a couple of 122 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: the plays that he has in terms of his pulling, 123 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: But I think that's something that's only going to get 124 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 1: better with him. Uh. He's certainly, uh, you know, a 125 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: worker and wants to be good at everything that he 126 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,839 Speaker 1: does and think ultimately he'll you know, he'll get that done. 127 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: So and uh, certainly we've got two young guys we 128 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: drafted that should just keep getting better as the season goes. 129 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 1: It's unfortunate Ball got hurt there there, but he'll be 130 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 1: back sooner than later. And uh, you know, we're really pleased, 131 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: you know, with what we have there in the offensive line. 132 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: All right, Steven, So I have a life question for you, 133 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: just to get to know all better. If you take 134 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: out your life of football, what is your greatest accomplishment. 135 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: I'm hoping it's hands down my family, even ahead of football. Certainly. 136 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: I've got four wonderful kids. It's my oldest one's birthday today, Jessica. 137 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: Happy birthday, Jessica, if you happen to be listening. But uh, 138 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: you know, have three beautiful daughters, one of which is married, 139 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: one of which is getting married in two weeks, and 140 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: uh and then a daughter working in New York, and 141 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: my son, of course is up at Arkansas. But uh, 142 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: you know, just to have had, you know, just a 143 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: great run with my family and look forward to a 144 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: lot of great times. And they're doing a great job 145 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 1: with their life. And hopefully that's my number one accomplishment, Stephen, 146 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: did did you just say two weeks? This is a 147 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 1: season opener in like two weeks? The season openers in three. 148 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: It's the it's labor day, it's the bye week. Okay, 149 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: all right, okay, all right. It was is making sure 150 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: they didn't they thought about this when they play in 151 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 1: this wedding, right they they thought about this one, and 152 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: we crammed two in tight. The one was the weekend 153 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: before training camp started, and one was the weekend before 154 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: the real season start. Your daughter can really challenge you 155 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 1: by scheduling it on September nine. Absolutely, she wouldn't. She 156 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: wouldn't do that to me. All right, So we're gonna 157 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: have we got one more thing, the less. When we 158 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: talk with you in Oxnard, I'm gonna play you a 159 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: clip of audio where you were fired up about being 160 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: a tollo, but then you asked a question about it, 161 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:55,839 Speaker 1: and we need to see if you can remember. Now 162 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 1: if we get this taken care of, let's play the audio. 163 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: If people didn't get to hear it, can I get 164 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: a tolo? Oh yeah, hell yeah? What's oh? Come on? 165 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 1: Turn it on? Leaving on, Hello baby, let's go. I 166 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: love the total keep it going, all right. I just 167 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: I just really we really needed to get that done 168 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: and heal everything from Oxnard. Thank you very much for 169 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: your time this morning, and we look forward to talking 170 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 1: with you every Monday during the season. Look forward to it, guys. 171 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 1: I'll have a great week.