WEBVTT - Talkin' Cowboys: Adjusting On Defense? 0:00:03.880 --> 0:00:06.400 The following is a production of Dallas Cowboys dot Com 0:00:06.440 --> 0:00:17.360 and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. This he's Talking Cowboys, 0:00:17.800 --> 0:00:21.200 Screaming live from the Dallas Cowboys World headquarters at the 0:00:21.280 --> 0:00:36.720 Star in Frisco, Sabol Scott Today. It's a Tuesday edition 0:00:36.840 --> 0:00:40.160 of Talking Cowboys and for the first time in almost 0:00:40.159 --> 0:00:45.160 four months or five months, what the opens correct? Half 0:00:45.200 --> 0:00:48.320 of us are live from the Star in Frisco as 0:00:48.360 --> 0:00:52.479 a part of Dallas Cowboys Training Camp. Welcome into the 0:00:52.600 --> 0:00:56.240 s WBC Mortgage studios for me. We've got virtual studios 0:00:56.240 --> 0:00:59.880 for Rob Phillips, Isaiah Stanback, our resident Super Bowl Champion, 0:01:00.240 --> 0:01:03.520 and we've got heck My Harrison joining as always. Boys 0:01:03.960 --> 0:01:07.800 Camp is here. We're in the padded practices where four 0:01:07.920 --> 0:01:12.520 practices into twenty twenty Dallas Cowboys Training Camp and Rob, 0:01:12.560 --> 0:01:14.959 it just feels great to finally be back at the 0:01:15.040 --> 0:01:20.600 Star and having football action being played. It's just great 0:01:20.600 --> 0:01:23.200 to see your face in person, Kyle. I saw you 0:01:23.280 --> 0:01:25.800 down the hall just a second ago. Really great to 0:01:25.800 --> 0:01:28.840 see you with the mask on. We're massed up in here. 0:01:28.880 --> 0:01:33.560 It's very different. Uh, the media access is different. It's 0:01:33.600 --> 0:01:36.839 the new normal for us. But yes, I told Dave 0:01:36.959 --> 0:01:39.560 down the hall a minute ago. I hate taking role 0:01:39.640 --> 0:01:43.120 during training camp. Usually it's eighty ninety guys. I've never 0:01:43.160 --> 0:01:45.520 looked forward to having a roster in my hand so 0:01:45.640 --> 0:01:49.280 much and just be able to just watch football. It's 0:01:49.320 --> 0:01:52.440 it's it's been great so far. Different, not great. We're 0:01:52.480 --> 0:01:59.520 not trying to brag to heck mine. Yes, yes, it's 0:01:59.520 --> 0:02:02.160 not say it all because we've been filling you guys in. 0:02:02.280 --> 0:02:04.960 You've been up on top of things as well. But heck, 0:02:05.240 --> 0:02:08.280 I know you from a fan standpoint that have just 0:02:08.360 --> 0:02:11.799 been itching for the day to learn more, to find 0:02:11.800 --> 0:02:14.200 out more about this Cowboys team. Where you're finally getting 0:02:14.200 --> 0:02:18.240 that opportunity. Well, look, man, it's it's all about the 0:02:18.280 --> 0:02:21.920 fact that training camp has started. All of these mysterious 0:02:21.960 --> 0:02:25.200 things have started to happen. You're starting to see all 0:02:25.200 --> 0:02:29.960 of the battles, position battles starting to take shape. So absolutely, 0:02:29.960 --> 0:02:33.760 I'm ecstatic about it from that standpoint. But man, I'm 0:02:33.760 --> 0:02:38.239 flying blind right now because I can't watch what you watch. Prey. Hey, 0:02:38.280 --> 0:02:40.040 it's just a matter of time, man, It is a 0:02:40.120 --> 0:02:42.120 matter of time till we all get back together, I 0:02:42.200 --> 0:02:44.640 promise you it is. We're counting down the days to 0:02:44.680 --> 0:02:46.400 do that as well, so that way you all can 0:02:46.480 --> 0:02:48.760 join us here and they ask to BBC Mortgage Studios. 0:02:48.760 --> 0:02:51.840 But Isaiah, from a players standpoint, now that if things 0:02:51.840 --> 0:02:55.360 have kicked off, what's that excitement like building up to 0:02:55.480 --> 0:02:58.440 training camp, especially whenever you've had a crazy off season, 0:02:58.560 --> 0:03:00.560 none of which have been as crazy is this one. 0:03:00.639 --> 0:03:03.079 But when you have a crazy off season that you've 0:03:03.080 --> 0:03:05.680 had to deal with, what's that anticipation like to getting 0:03:05.680 --> 0:03:08.080 back to football? Yeah, you just want to get back 0:03:08.120 --> 0:03:10.520 to some form of normalcy, right, especially in the off 0:03:10.560 --> 0:03:14.720 season that these guys have had, it's been everything but normal. Right. 0:03:14.720 --> 0:03:17.520 So for the veterans, these guys are familiar with what 0:03:17.600 --> 0:03:19.680 it typically should be like, so they're excited just to 0:03:19.720 --> 0:03:22.120 be back on site with coaches, you know, in the 0:03:22.160 --> 0:03:25.240 regular your regular regiment, right, your regular schedule. And for 0:03:25.280 --> 0:03:27.280 the new guys, these guys they don't know any better, right, 0:03:27.320 --> 0:03:29.160 They don't know any different at all, So this is 0:03:29.200 --> 0:03:31.320 all brand new to them. But this is awesome. I 0:03:31.400 --> 0:03:33.840 know these guys are can't you know, could be more 0:03:33.840 --> 0:03:36.360 ecstatic about getting together and just you know, they can't 0:03:36.360 --> 0:03:38.640 put COVID behind them because they're still in it, right. 0:03:38.680 --> 0:03:41.119 But things are getting back to the way that which 0:03:41.120 --> 0:03:42.840 they're familiar with, which is, you know, going out there, 0:03:42.880 --> 0:03:45.880 putting some pads on and running around the field, no doubt, 0:03:46.040 --> 0:03:48.920 And that's the biggest thing, is finally getting back to 0:03:49.040 --> 0:03:52.680 football and kind of getting into the groove of things again. 0:03:52.720 --> 0:03:56.480 And I think that's something that everybody looks forward to, media, player, coaches, 0:03:56.520 --> 0:03:59.360 everyone after what has happened in our society lately. But 0:03:59.640 --> 0:04:05.160 one unfortunate news event has happened throughout training camp this offseason, 0:04:05.280 --> 0:04:07.760 or at least through the last couple of days. Gerald 0:04:07.840 --> 0:04:11.240 McCoy out for the season with a rupture to write 0:04:11.360 --> 0:04:14.800 quad tendon. It was confirmed by Stephen Jones yesterday. Just 0:04:14.880 --> 0:04:17.680 kind of a freak accident injury in the middle of 0:04:17.720 --> 0:04:22.440 individual one on one drills, Antoine Woods doing his drill. 0:04:22.920 --> 0:04:26.360 Gerald McCoy was working in a role as the offensive 0:04:26.400 --> 0:04:30.000 lineman as a blocker, just stepped wrong. Ultimately, is what 0:04:30.080 --> 0:04:33.160 it was. Robin and kind of go into the details 0:04:33.160 --> 0:04:35.760 of this injury and what this is going to do. 0:04:36.080 --> 0:04:38.720 What is this going to do for this defensive line 0:04:38.800 --> 0:04:43.560 moving forward? Well, it's definitely, according to Stephen Jones, this 0:04:43.640 --> 0:04:46.800 is gonna put Gerald McCoy out for the season. You know, 0:04:46.839 --> 0:04:49.320 they do have those designated to return irs, but it 0:04:49.360 --> 0:04:52.200 looks like, you know, he's gonna have surgery today and 0:04:52.400 --> 0:04:55.839 he will miss the rest of this entire season. And look, 0:04:55.880 --> 0:04:59.039 Mike McCarthy. I asked Mike McCarthy an hour before the 0:04:59.080 --> 0:05:01.680 injury happened and talk about what an impact he's already 0:05:01.680 --> 0:05:05.000 had on the younger guys on the defensive line. He's 0:05:05.040 --> 0:05:07.920 such a leader, he's a six time Pro bowler. They 0:05:08.040 --> 0:05:10.359 I mean, he was the first guy that they targeted 0:05:10.360 --> 0:05:14.120 in free agency. So it's a big loss and it 0:05:14.160 --> 0:05:16.200 means that they're going to have to adjust. You know, 0:05:16.279 --> 0:05:20.160 Tyrone Crawford is probably the guy you look at first 0:05:20.240 --> 0:05:23.160 because of his experience and the fact that he can 0:05:23.240 --> 0:05:26.120 play play anywhere. And they're gonna be looking forward to 0:05:26.120 --> 0:05:29.960 getting don Terry Poe back into practice soon. But beyond that, 0:05:30.080 --> 0:05:32.960 I know we've talked about younger guys Isaiah and Heck, 0:05:33.480 --> 0:05:36.840 it's Nevill gallilor their third round pick. It's Tristan Hill, 0:05:36.920 --> 0:05:39.040 their second round pick, who's getting more work now with 0:05:39.120 --> 0:05:43.359 the defensive line, they're gonna get opportunities, and there's not 0:05:43.440 --> 0:05:46.039 a preseason for those guys to really show out. They're 0:05:46.040 --> 0:05:49.120 gonna have to show in practice that they can they 0:05:49.120 --> 0:05:51.359 can take those snaps and earn those snaps. But I 0:05:51.480 --> 0:05:53.760 look at TC first as the guy that that's probably 0:05:53.760 --> 0:05:58.320 gonna get more run here. Yeah, I believe that the 0:05:58.440 --> 0:06:02.479 absence of Eryld McCoy, it's gonna be it's gonna be huge, 0:06:02.560 --> 0:06:06.359 right only to the standpoint of the intangibles. He's a 0:06:06.520 --> 0:06:09.800 proven veteran coach. Mike McCarthy said it in this pressor, 0:06:10.000 --> 0:06:13.320 you know, a perennial pro bowler. Uh, it's the leadership, 0:06:13.360 --> 0:06:15.680 It's the things that he's doing with those younger guys. 0:06:15.720 --> 0:06:17.920 But make no mistake about it, man, there are some 0:06:18.000 --> 0:06:20.560 quality reps right now for some younger guys, and I 0:06:20.640 --> 0:06:24.240 look for Tristan Hill to take it full advantage of 0:06:24.279 --> 0:06:28.320 the opportunity and also Neville Gallimore having that opportunity to 0:06:28.680 --> 0:06:31.800 you know, turn that corner and have an opportunity to 0:06:31.880 --> 0:06:35.120 learn this defense firsthand with the ones. But you say it, 0:06:35.600 --> 0:06:39.640 said it right, Rob Tyl Crawford is big time in 0:06:39.720 --> 0:06:42.520 the fact that he can He's multifaceted and can play 0:06:42.680 --> 0:06:48.400 a lot of positions. So his value add just went up. Yeah, fellas, 0:06:48.440 --> 0:06:51.320 I mean man, it sucks, you know, and having been 0:06:51.400 --> 0:06:53.279 a former player and having been somebody who's dealt with 0:06:53.320 --> 0:06:56.080 some serious injuries in the past, Um, it's it's not 0:06:56.120 --> 0:06:58.120 a good place to be right now, you know, especially 0:06:58.200 --> 0:06:59.840 this time in his career where he act he came here, 0:07:00.080 --> 0:07:02.240 or a chance of the Super Bowl, right So that's 0:07:02.320 --> 0:07:04.839 and that's taken completely away from him. Um. I had 0:07:04.839 --> 0:07:06.920 an opportunity to reach out to one of my former doctors, 0:07:06.960 --> 0:07:09.520 doctor Kelly Ryder of the Writer Clinic, and just talked 0:07:09.520 --> 0:07:11.840 to him about the injury, and he was talking about 0:07:11.880 --> 0:07:15.080 how how how integrated the muscle group is, you know, 0:07:15.120 --> 0:07:17.320 from that quadrant of going down into that kneecap, and 0:07:17.360 --> 0:07:19.600 how this is one of those deep, uh in you know, 0:07:19.640 --> 0:07:22.480 inner layer muscle groups that is really hard to deal 0:07:22.520 --> 0:07:25.720 with based upon what we've seen on film. And you know, 0:07:25.720 --> 0:07:27.240 I just want to send prayers up and hope that 0:07:27.240 --> 0:07:29.360 he gets back as healthy as possible. But it sounds 0:07:29.360 --> 0:07:30.760 like it looks like he's gonna be out for about 0:07:30.800 --> 0:07:33.280 six to six to twelve months, depending on how serious 0:07:33.280 --> 0:07:34.840 of surgery is. Once we get the MRI and back, 0:07:34.840 --> 0:07:36.960 we'll have a better idea. But as you guys are 0:07:36.960 --> 0:07:39.040 already attested to. There's opportunity to get better, you know 0:07:39.120 --> 0:07:41.000 for guys. You know, you know we talked about Gallimore, 0:07:41.040 --> 0:07:43.160 you talked about Hell. You know these guys are you know, 0:07:43.280 --> 0:07:44.920 this isn't the way in which they wanted to have 0:07:45.000 --> 0:07:47.240 more reps. But let's be honest, most of the guys 0:07:47.240 --> 0:07:48.640 that have stepped up to the plate in this league 0:07:48.640 --> 0:07:51.040 and became big players that they got their opportunities from 0:07:51.040 --> 0:07:54.000 guys ahead of them has sustaining injuries. So um, not 0:07:54.040 --> 0:07:55.560 the way in which they wanted to go. But you know, 0:07:55.560 --> 0:07:57.440 there's an opportunity for guys to come out show who 0:07:57.520 --> 0:07:59.640 they are, show that they're prepared and go out there 0:07:59.640 --> 0:08:05.400 and make and you know it's we've talked, go ahead, 0:08:05.680 --> 0:08:07.960 go ahead. Well I was just gonna say to add 0:08:08.000 --> 0:08:11.040 on to what happened yesterday. It was disappointing for sure. 0:08:11.680 --> 0:08:14.320 And I know we've talked about soft tissue injuries being 0:08:14.320 --> 0:08:16.680 a possibility with guys having so much time off. I 0:08:16.680 --> 0:08:18.960 think this was just a freak thing. You know, he 0:08:19.040 --> 0:08:21.760 got his he got his foot stepped on by Antoine Woods, 0:08:21.800 --> 0:08:23.400 and I know they were on turf, they were inside 0:08:23.400 --> 0:08:25.880 at Fort Center and they were again today. I don't 0:08:25.880 --> 0:08:27.800 think it had to do with where they were or 0:08:28.000 --> 0:08:30.280 the time off for Jerry McCoy. It's just it just 0:08:30.680 --> 0:08:33.679 like Isaiah said, it just sucks. It happens. Tyrone Crawford 0:08:33.679 --> 0:08:35.480 got hurt the first day at training camp six seven 0:08:35.559 --> 0:08:38.160 years ago, and it's just it's just a cruel fact 0:08:38.200 --> 0:08:41.360 of the game. Yeah, Rob And just to give everybody 0:08:41.360 --> 0:08:43.040 a little bit better idea of kind of what happened. 0:08:43.040 --> 0:08:44.400 And for those that's seen the film, it kind of 0:08:44.440 --> 0:08:46.280 looked like he just failed right from the outside in. 0:08:46.559 --> 0:08:48.640 But as you watched a drill, you know, you see 0:08:48.720 --> 0:08:51.120 McCoy going back right and then you see the gentleman 0:08:51.200 --> 0:08:53.559 comeback step on his foot. Right, think about if you're 0:08:53.600 --> 0:08:56.240 going backwards and somebody steps on your foot, your initial 0:08:56.280 --> 0:08:58.880 reaction is to do what's to seize up right and 0:08:58.920 --> 0:09:01.800 stop yourself from going back. When you have that much power, 0:09:01.840 --> 0:09:03.840 when you have another three hundred pound man stepping on 0:09:03.880 --> 0:09:06.840 you, you you get that concentric reaction like that that that 0:09:07.000 --> 0:09:09.920 tended pulled exactly pulled right from behind his knee and popped, 0:09:09.920 --> 0:09:13.520 and that's exactly what happened. So it sucks. It absolutely sucks. 0:09:13.520 --> 0:09:15.040 But it like like you detested to you know, I 0:09:15.080 --> 0:09:16.400 talked about how there's gonna be a lot of soft 0:09:16.400 --> 0:09:18.120 tissue injuries all around the league, and you're starting to 0:09:18.120 --> 0:09:20.440 see it already in the first week of practice. But 0:09:20.520 --> 0:09:22.400 this is not that. This is just something that was 0:09:22.440 --> 0:09:32.720 just freaking freak accident is and where you don't have 0:09:32.760 --> 0:09:36.280 a ton of that. Is there anything ultimately that you 0:09:36.320 --> 0:09:42.200 can do Isaiah as a what does a freak accident 0:09:42.280 --> 0:09:45.839 ultimately do? Do it? Nah? Absolutely not. I Mean the 0:09:46.000 --> 0:09:47.400 only thing I tell people all the time for some 0:09:47.400 --> 0:09:49.280 of the injuries I sustained, you can't control things that 0:09:49.280 --> 0:09:51.800 happened to you. You can only control how you react 0:09:51.800 --> 0:09:53.800 and how you respond to them. So him being the 0:09:53.880 --> 0:09:55.480 leader on the team, you're already hurt. In the interview 0:09:55.480 --> 0:09:58.520 earlier in the week about Loony Looney was was yelling 0:09:58.559 --> 0:10:00.839 at the Mountain tops about how big of a leader 0:10:01.320 --> 0:10:03.440 Corey wasn't. How much of a positive impact he's already 0:10:03.440 --> 0:10:05.560 had on the team. Um, And you know, so I 0:10:05.600 --> 0:10:08.240 think his role now becomes get healthy and to be 0:10:08.400 --> 0:10:11.240 that mental, that mentor and the mental and that leader 0:10:11.280 --> 0:10:13.920 on that defense to help help those young guys come 0:10:13.920 --> 0:10:16.920 together and really go out there and performing. Yeah. Absolutely, 0:10:17.000 --> 0:10:20.080 freak accident, and I hate to see anything that as 0:10:20.080 --> 0:10:23.000 far as a friendly fire situation like that. When I 0:10:23.000 --> 0:10:26.760 saw the video of it, it I don't know. I 0:10:26.760 --> 0:10:28.960 didn't want to see him go down like that. I 0:10:29.040 --> 0:10:32.000 was like, well, it's his knee. How did that happen? 0:10:32.240 --> 0:10:34.920 And that just shows you, man, how you know a 0:10:34.960 --> 0:10:39.320 friendly fire freak accident like that where he's simulating basically 0:10:39.360 --> 0:10:43.160 a dummy for that play and he gets hurt on it. 0:10:43.240 --> 0:10:46.280 That is absolutely not what you want to hear as 0:10:46.280 --> 0:10:49.000 a Cowboys fan here and that he got hurt like that, 0:10:49.080 --> 0:10:52.840 But again, so is life, and Gerald McCoy is so. 0:10:53.040 --> 0:10:54.959 I mean, I saw a video of him this morning 0:10:55.040 --> 0:10:58.679 going into surgery and his thing was, man, I'm still smiling, 0:10:59.040 --> 0:11:02.079 he you know, saying Cowboy Nation, I'm here for you. 0:11:02.320 --> 0:11:03.839 I know you guys are you know, we got a 0:11:03.880 --> 0:11:08.079 ship to win and I'm just excited about his recovery 0:11:08.200 --> 0:11:11.160 and next year. But make no mistake about it, we 0:11:11.360 --> 0:11:14.400 have a ton of depth at the defensive line position 0:11:14.480 --> 0:11:17.559 and guys that can play multiple positions and move around. 0:11:17.559 --> 0:11:19.920 And I think you'll see that as well with Everson 0:11:20.000 --> 0:11:23.200 Griffin coming into the fold, that leadership that we were 0:11:23.240 --> 0:11:25.760 going to be looking for for McCoy will get that 0:11:25.800 --> 0:11:28.600 with get Griffin. But and I have to say this, 0:11:28.760 --> 0:11:33.080 Rob that you know, Crawford is that guy that has 0:11:33.200 --> 0:11:36.360 been you know, the straw that stirs the drink for 0:11:36.440 --> 0:11:39.120 the Cowboys defensive line. And so he is the guy 0:11:39.160 --> 0:11:43.080 that definitely leadership qualities are gonna be you know, on 0:11:43.200 --> 0:11:47.640 full tilt and display through camping, through the season. Yep, 0:11:56.640 --> 0:12:02.240 oh looks like we lost. We lost, Like okay, we love, 0:12:03.840 --> 0:12:08.600 we love hire. You're man there it is, man, the 0:12:08.679 --> 0:12:11.199 deepens of line is, the depth is It's what it is. 0:12:11.520 --> 0:12:14.720 Just for you, Robin, You've talked about Crawford and his 0:12:14.800 --> 0:12:18.600 leadership ability, you know, kind of expand on that. Well, 0:12:18.640 --> 0:12:21.880 I think he's been I think Isaiah said, what do 0:12:21.880 --> 0:12:24.000 you guys called him a swift Swiss army knife early 0:12:24.080 --> 0:12:26.240 in the offseason. That's exactly what he is. I mean, 0:12:26.280 --> 0:12:29.760 he can play four or five techniques on this defense, 0:12:29.800 --> 0:12:32.319 played pretty much anywhere you need him to play. And 0:12:32.360 --> 0:12:34.719 I think, you know, for me personally, when I came 0:12:34.760 --> 0:12:36.840 back to the Cowboys, it was twenty fifteen and he 0:12:36.920 --> 0:12:38.960 was getting a new contract right then, and I feel 0:12:38.960 --> 0:12:41.000 like a lot of fans have judged him off the 0:12:41.040 --> 0:12:44.400 contract pretty harshly at times. It's not fair. I think 0:12:44.400 --> 0:12:47.040 the guy has played hurt, he's been productive, he's been 0:12:47.080 --> 0:12:49.280 a leader off the field, He's been a guy that's 0:12:49.320 --> 0:12:53.760 been someone that DeMarcus has really looked too in developing 0:12:53.800 --> 0:12:55.880 and learning to be a pro and be a pro 0:12:55.920 --> 0:12:58.920 bowler in this league. And I think, you know, I 0:12:58.960 --> 0:13:00.640 give him a lot of credit for coming back off 0:13:00.640 --> 0:13:03.400 the double hip surgery because that was not something easy 0:13:03.720 --> 0:13:06.679 to go back from last year. But heck, I know 0:13:06.920 --> 0:13:09.840 Gallimore is a guy for you and I say it too. 0:13:09.920 --> 0:13:11.880 This is a guy that could have been drafted by 0:13:11.920 --> 0:13:14.719 the Cowboys in the second round. And McCarthy spoke to 0:13:14.800 --> 0:13:16.360 him having to play and maybe a little bit different 0:13:16.360 --> 0:13:18.120 style than he did at Oe You but I'm interested 0:13:18.160 --> 0:13:20.160 to see what he could do with some more reps 0:13:20.200 --> 0:13:24.000 as well. Yeah, the big Fellaws has a great shot. Right. 0:13:24.000 --> 0:13:26.320 We just talked about how many guys in the NFL's 0:13:26.400 --> 0:13:28.240 history has had a chance to come in and step 0:13:28.280 --> 0:13:31.079 in and get reps early on. Right now, we did 0:13:31.120 --> 0:13:33.040 touch on the fact that there is no preseason, so 0:13:33.080 --> 0:13:35.040 that sucks, right, we don't get a chance to get 0:13:35.120 --> 0:13:37.360 him out there and kind of work him into the 0:13:37.440 --> 0:13:40.120 system and work him into being a pro. Now, you, 0:13:40.280 --> 0:13:42.400 young fellow, you just get thrown out there. So now 0:13:42.440 --> 0:13:44.559 you're you're you're a grown man. You know, you're you're 0:13:44.600 --> 0:13:48.360 out of college. You're out there playing amongst grown human beings. Okay, 0:13:48.400 --> 0:13:51.559 these are not recolicized humans, but neither are you, right, 0:13:51.600 --> 0:13:53.640 So great opportunity for you to go out there and 0:13:53.679 --> 0:13:55.679 show who you are. You're you're a big fella, You're 0:13:55.679 --> 0:13:58.080 a strong fellow, You're versatile and um, you know what 0:13:58.240 --> 0:14:00.640 better company to be around. And the guys that are 0:14:00.640 --> 0:14:02.679 gonna be on each side of you on this defensive line. 0:14:02.720 --> 0:14:04.240 And then you look behind you and you got those 0:14:04.280 --> 0:14:06.600 three goons behind you as well, so you're not alone. 0:14:06.640 --> 0:14:08.400 You don't have to do it alone. He's going to 0:14:08.480 --> 0:14:10.840 be surrounded by great support systems in terms of talent 0:14:10.880 --> 0:14:14.079 and a great amazing coaching staff and defensive coordinator. That's 0:14:14.080 --> 0:14:16.560 gonna put him in a position to be successful. Now, 0:14:16.600 --> 0:14:21.600 speaking of those three goons behind him, LV and Big Smooth, 0:14:22.040 --> 0:14:25.240 we've heard a lot of great things about these guys 0:14:25.360 --> 0:14:29.040 being active, flying around and just the defense giving these 0:14:29.080 --> 0:14:32.240 guys an opportunity to show exactly who they are. Robbed. 0:14:32.520 --> 0:14:35.600 You're the only ones that gets an opportunity to see this, 0:14:35.960 --> 0:14:40.160 So you gotta tell me, you gotta Sell'm sorry, don't 0:14:40.200 --> 0:14:44.120 apologize now, but you gotta tell me. What's been your 0:14:44.160 --> 0:14:48.320 biggest impression of Layton vander esh and also Jaylen Smith 0:14:48.360 --> 0:14:50.720 and camp. Well, it's been good to see Layton back 0:14:50.760 --> 0:14:55.080 and he looks like himself. He's moving around great. But 0:14:55.240 --> 0:14:58.040 Jaylen Smith has been probably my biggest standout of the 0:14:58.080 --> 0:15:01.160 training camp through what four practice this so far. He's 0:15:01.160 --> 0:15:03.560 been all over the field, guys, and he's been and 0:15:03.640 --> 0:15:07.000 I'm talking about cover situations too, where he's having to 0:15:07.120 --> 0:15:09.960 and it's he's either he's carrying a tight end down 0:15:10.000 --> 0:15:12.160 the field as he did with Blake Jarwin earlier today, 0:15:12.560 --> 0:15:15.840 or it's Zeke Elliott and he's he's busting up plays, 0:15:16.200 --> 0:15:20.800 moving forward screenplays, things of that nature. He's looking really 0:15:21.680 --> 0:15:25.760 active and effective. And you know they've talked about how 0:15:25.800 --> 0:15:28.640 that that position switched. Guys, isn't necessarily a big thing 0:15:29.000 --> 0:15:31.680 between the two guys, but if he's going to be 0:15:31.720 --> 0:15:34.040 out of the box more and roaming more, it seems 0:15:34.040 --> 0:15:37.240 like he might be a great fit for him. Yeah, 0:15:37.280 --> 0:15:40.440 I feel like that's more his natural setting anyways, Right, 0:15:40.480 --> 0:15:42.360 I think his ability to be able to run around 0:15:42.400 --> 0:15:44.760 and make plays and just be free. And I think, 0:15:44.760 --> 0:15:46.800 you know, Nolan coming in and being a coordinatory is 0:15:46.800 --> 0:15:51.200 absolutely huge for his development because he's gonna have that freedom. Right. 0:15:51.520 --> 0:15:53.920 We all know that Nolan likes the blitz, Right, Nolan 0:15:53.920 --> 0:15:55.520 likes the blitz. He's gonna lean on his guys to 0:15:55.560 --> 0:15:58.200 be athletic. Well, we know Jalen Smith is an athletic 0:15:58.440 --> 0:16:01.080 human being, So he's gonna have the opportunity to run 0:16:01.120 --> 0:16:02.840 around and be on the running backs, to be on 0:16:02.880 --> 0:16:04.880 the tight ends, to blitz off the edge, and to 0:16:05.000 --> 0:16:07.800 run sideline. The sideline that's where he's best at. Right. 0:16:07.840 --> 0:16:11.000 We put that we picked the wolf in the middle obviously, 0:16:11.000 --> 0:16:12.640 and that we got Lee on the other side. So 0:16:13.040 --> 0:16:15.920 I think this group complements each other as well, and 0:16:15.960 --> 0:16:17.880 I think where these guys are sliding now allows for 0:16:17.920 --> 0:16:20.840 them to excel to the best of their abilities. Now, 0:16:20.840 --> 0:16:23.920 I've said it before, and I've always felt as though 0:16:24.000 --> 0:16:28.120 the Cowboys got extremely lucky with getting Jaylor Smith out 0:16:28.120 --> 0:16:31.480 of Notre Dame because of that injury injury that he had, 0:16:32.000 --> 0:16:34.800 you know, completely terrible injury that he had in the 0:16:34.880 --> 0:16:38.000 bowl game, but he's showing you how he has healed 0:16:38.280 --> 0:16:41.000 from that drop foot injury and just seeing him out 0:16:41.040 --> 0:16:44.840 in coverage against Ezekiel Elliott the other day. Like you said, Rob, 0:16:44.920 --> 0:16:48.520 he is flying around and also making plays in the 0:16:48.600 --> 0:16:51.800 run game as well. I mean, this is this telling 0:16:51.920 --> 0:16:55.360 us the type of coverages the Cowboys are gonna play 0:16:55.400 --> 0:16:57.960 when you're seeing him spending so much time one on 0:16:58.040 --> 0:17:00.240 one with running backs on is that just a part 0:17:00.280 --> 0:17:02.920 of the deal with him now being at the wheel linebacker. 0:17:03.840 --> 0:17:05.639 I think it's just part of the deal. And I 0:17:05.640 --> 0:17:08.240 think there's gonna be times where he's in the box too, 0:17:08.240 --> 0:17:10.840 and he and Layton are probably switching up a little bit, 0:17:11.760 --> 0:17:13.800 but he's going to be in positions where he's gonna 0:17:13.800 --> 0:17:15.639 have to cover, and he's also going to be in 0:17:15.680 --> 0:17:18.680 those those blitz type positions as well, and I wouldn't 0:17:18.680 --> 0:17:21.159 discount Layton or Sean Lee doing that as well. I 0:17:21.160 --> 0:17:23.960 think the key to this defense, and we've talked about it, 0:17:24.000 --> 0:17:28.480 is is disguising things and having guys play different spots, 0:17:28.520 --> 0:17:31.080 and you know, if they do change up some of 0:17:31.080 --> 0:17:34.120 their alignments, that's that's key because you don't know where 0:17:34.119 --> 0:17:37.080 those rushers are coming from and that's what's really exciting 0:17:37.119 --> 0:17:40.240 about it if they do change things up and make 0:17:40.280 --> 0:17:42.280 things a little more of disguising than they've done in 0:17:42.320 --> 0:17:46.760 the past, which guys have alluded to in the interviews. Right, 0:17:47.200 --> 0:17:51.360 and Isaiah, you've played with a ton of great linebackers 0:17:51.400 --> 0:17:54.000 in your career. How do you, as far as Jane 0:17:54.040 --> 0:17:57.240 Lin Sumid comparison wise, when guys think you've seen and 0:17:57.320 --> 0:17:59.760 you went out on a limb last week about it 0:18:01.440 --> 0:18:06.320 comparing this team, but you're feeling about Jaylen Smith, you know, 0:18:06.359 --> 0:18:09.560 with guys that you've played with in the past. Oh man, 0:18:09.560 --> 0:18:11.560 it's hard to draw a comparison right now. I feel 0:18:11.600 --> 0:18:13.880 like he's he's pretty dog on athletic man, and it's 0:18:13.920 --> 0:18:16.639 kind of hard to compare him to the old you know. 0:18:17.119 --> 0:18:18.920 For me, and I'm an old school now, the old 0:18:18.920 --> 0:18:22.080 schools style of linebackers, the old school linebackers were more so, Hey, 0:18:22.200 --> 0:18:24.040 I'm sitting in the box and I'm coming downhill no 0:18:24.080 --> 0:18:26.800 matter what. In this new age of football, you can't 0:18:26.840 --> 0:18:28.560 have those guys. Right. You might be able to have 0:18:28.640 --> 0:18:30.960 one out of your three linebackers, three to four linebackers, 0:18:31.000 --> 0:18:32.720 but your guys got to be able to run around 0:18:32.720 --> 0:18:34.320 because this is the day and age of tight ends. 0:18:34.560 --> 0:18:36.480 Tight Ends can are big, tight Ends can block, tight 0:18:36.560 --> 0:18:38.159 Ends can run, So you have to be able to 0:18:38.240 --> 0:18:40.160 keep up with those guys. And they also are now 0:18:40.240 --> 0:18:42.040 at being asked to cover running backs, and we know 0:18:42.040 --> 0:18:44.239 how shifty those guys have gotten. So I think it's 0:18:44.280 --> 0:18:47.959 hard to draw comparison there, but I think his versatility 0:18:48.040 --> 0:18:51.400 is something to definitely acknowledge and to appreciate. And I'm 0:18:51.400 --> 0:18:53.439 pretty dog I'm sure that that Mike Nolan is going 0:18:53.480 --> 0:18:55.199 to have a heck of a time drawing up some 0:18:55.240 --> 0:18:57.760 crazy plays with that with that young man. Yeah, that's 0:18:57.760 --> 0:18:59.760 what I love about him, and to me, he gives 0:18:59.880 --> 0:19:03.080 me that throatback kind of a field as at the 0:19:03.160 --> 0:19:06.959 linebacker position. But there is an undrafted free agent that 0:19:07.200 --> 0:19:11.640 is making some noise at the linebacker position. Bernard does 0:19:11.680 --> 0:19:13.640 that ring of ball? Rob You gotta tell me about 0:19:13.680 --> 0:19:16.600 this guy, because I'm hearing a lot of rublins about 0:19:16.640 --> 0:19:20.359 the rookie making some noise and padded practices. Well, I mean, 0:19:21.040 --> 0:19:24.320 I forget how many practices they have left before the 0:19:24.359 --> 0:19:27.080 season starts. Let's say it's sixteen. He's on pace for 0:19:27.160 --> 0:19:31.000 sixteen interceptions in training camp. Because he gets one every day. 0:19:31.080 --> 0:19:34.199 He got a second one today. I think this was 0:19:34.200 --> 0:19:36.960 a pickoff Clayton Thorson, who I think kind of just 0:19:37.000 --> 0:19:38.960 threw it right to him. But hey, it's still a 0:19:38.960 --> 0:19:40.840 big played for the rookie. It's still a big played 0:19:40.880 --> 0:19:43.400 for the rookie. But anytime you pick off Dak Prescott 0:19:43.400 --> 0:19:47.760 and Anthony Brown did it his rookie season. I believe 0:19:47.760 --> 0:19:49.440 it was Tony Rumo that he picked off. Anytime a 0:19:49.520 --> 0:19:52.160 rookie comes in and picks off the starting quarterback, that's 0:19:52.160 --> 0:19:55.200 a big deal. So you know, he's making his market. 0:19:55.240 --> 0:19:57.560 I know that he's a guy that they really liked. 0:19:57.560 --> 0:19:59.760 You know that it's a group of undrafted free agents. 0:19:59.760 --> 0:20:01.760 A lot the guys they had draftable grades on. I 0:20:01.760 --> 0:20:04.199 think he was one of them. And we're seeing why 0:20:06.359 --> 0:20:09.320 have we got our fearless leader back. I've been waiting 0:20:09.320 --> 0:20:11.359 to see if Kyle he's just smiling down here at 0:20:11.359 --> 0:20:18.119