1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: All right. Stephen Jones joined us now here on your 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Home of the Cowboys one oh five three the Fan 3 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: and a good afternoon, sir. How are you doing. I'm 4 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: doing great. Gad you got We're doing good. Happy Friday 5 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: to you, Happy football Friday. How what's your thoughts on 6 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: dec What can you share with us on your quarterback 7 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: situation going into Sunday night? Well, not a lot to 8 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: add to anything that's been said. Obviously, we're still very 9 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: optimistic about it and kinna see how it goes tomorrow, 10 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: which will be key for us. And you know, the 11 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: biggest thing we've got to deal with here is you know, 12 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: we're dealing with a player here that's ultra competitive and 13 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: uh certainly wants to play regardless, and we just gotta 14 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 1: get our hands around, you know, if he's truly ready 15 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: and if that's in our best interest to line him 16 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: up and play him against the Viking, Stephen, as you 17 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: you know, and I appreciate the answer and the candor 18 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: on that there. The situation of it, right tackle, Was 19 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: this more about that? You know? With Lyle Collins coming back? 20 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: Was this more about just Tared Steele is just played 21 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: so much better? Is the organization not happy with Lyle Collins. 22 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,119 Speaker 1: Can you share why Tared Steel is still your starting 23 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: right tackle? Well, I think that all the above, you know, 24 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: you got to First of all, Tared Steel stepped up 25 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 1: and played really well. Second of all, Lyle hadn't been 26 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: involved in really practicing and leaning on big bodies for 27 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: five weeks, and uh, you know, while we're getting him 28 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: ready to go, uh, you know, we thought it was 29 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: good as we all know how important a player is 30 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: and uh, certainly when he has versatility, it doesn't get 31 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: any better. So you know, if Biel can get in 32 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: there and help help play guard as well, then, as 33 00:01:57,640 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 1: you know, as we start to head down the home 34 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: stretch and we got guys who can do multiple things, 35 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: it's certainly helpful. But we all know Lyle can be 36 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: an impactful right tackle forts as well. But certainly those 37 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: guys are playing well as a unit right now. Still 38 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: certainly has stepped up, We've talked about it and playing well. 39 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 1: But in no way is this any indication as to 40 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: how we feel about Lyle Otawa. Is there a chance 41 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: that he ends up starting at guard here soon? Now 42 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 1: we're just uh, you know, what we're doing is making 43 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: this team as competitive as possible. Certainly that's the case 44 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: that a lot of positions we have right now. You know, 45 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 1: when a player goes down with that, gays step up, 46 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: and certainly in the defensive line it's very competitive as 47 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: guys have stepped up the safety position with don O 48 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,839 Speaker 1: Wilson and Hooker and Curse and Kaze, I mean, all 49 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: these situations. You know, everybody's got to come to work 50 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: every day and earn the right to be active and 51 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: playing the We've got Kelvin Joseph coming back at the 52 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 1: corner spot. Uh, who's gonna really push people? So you know, 53 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: this is in my opinion, what makes a team really 54 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: come together and and really gel is when you got 55 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: to come to work every day and practice, you butt 56 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: off and make sure you're keeping your spot or you're 57 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: working to get get a spot. And uh, you know, 58 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, I've been saying it 59 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: all year. Uh you know you need them all and 60 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: uh certainly we're gonna need them all. And we know 61 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: how quickly u situation can change, just as we saw 62 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: last year where you go from thinking you're you're deep 63 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: at a spot and you look up in two three 64 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: injuries in the offensive line, two or three injuries in 65 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: the defensive line, the next thing, you know, you need everybody. 66 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: So we feel really good about our situation. I think 67 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: we got this team's very unselfish starts at the top 68 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: with Dak Prescott, and I think everybody understands the situation 69 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: that we've got some really good football players on this 70 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: team that are going to push everybody should pay off 71 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: for us. Stephen, you we're all hopeful that Doc is 72 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: able to play for you, there's no question about that. 73 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: But when we ride an ox Stard with you, Garrett 74 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: Gilbert was the primary backup quarterback and then things switched 75 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: where Cooper Rushed then became really your primary backup quarterback. 76 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 1: Can you tell us how that transferred from one to 77 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: the other. Was there a day a practice as there 78 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 1: was something though along the way that if Cooper Rush 79 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: has to play this weekend that you guys feel solid 80 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: about him. Well, one thing, Cooper had some injuries early 81 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: and I had to overcome him. But one thing about 82 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: both Garrett and Cooper hats off to him, is I 83 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: think both of coach in this league big quarterback coaches 84 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: and worked away into being NFL coaches. They know the 85 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: system that well. But at the end of the day, 86 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:04,040 Speaker 1: just really felt like, you know, Cooper had outplayed good 87 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: and I felt like he's the guy that can step 88 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: in and we really think can do a great job, 89 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: especially with the way this offense is running right now. 90 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: We've got to the offensive lines in great shape. Obviously, 91 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: our receiving corps getting ready to get stronger. Probably we'll 92 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,840 Speaker 1: see him this week, but gallops right around the corner, 93 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 1: good backs, good tight ends. Certainly Cooper knows how to 94 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 1: run this offense, and I think he'll do a great 95 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: job if he has to play. But that's still yet 96 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,039 Speaker 1: to be determined, because that number four working his butt 97 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 1: off out there, and certainly optimistic that he can step 98 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: out there and play for us. Stephen with Michael Parsons, 99 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: we've seen him play off the ball. We've seen him 100 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 1: play primarily edge what he needed to when you had 101 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 1: the bodies for that. Is there a long term picture 102 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: of him needing to fit in to one or the 103 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 1: other or do you guys enjoy the Swiss Army knife 104 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: part of it. I think we enjoyed the Swiss Army Knife. Certainly, 105 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: we've got great coaches that are monitoring that whether it's 106 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: a Van Quinn, whether it's George Awards. You know, they 107 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 1: understand when you get to a point of diminishing returns. 108 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 1: But I think right now we do enjoy the flexibility 109 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: and the unknown that comes with him week in and 110 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: week out as to what his role may be in 111 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: a particular game, where he might rush from, when he's 112 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 1: going to drop in coverage, and certainly when he's just 113 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 1: going to be playing straight up linebacker, running sideline to 114 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: sideline and making plays which you know he's certainly has 115 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: the skill set to do any and all the above. 116 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: So we'll continue to use him as a player who 117 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: when the other team breaks the huddle. You know, I've 118 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 1: said this in the pack that he you know, he 119 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: needs to be accounted for. And when there's an unknown 120 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: story maybe lining up, whether it's Mike linebacker, edge rusher, 121 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: outside linebacker, certainly, I think that brings another challenging dimension 122 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:19,239 Speaker 1: to our defense that the other team has to account for. Stephen, 123 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: Thanks for your time. Give him hell up there. We'll 124 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: be pulling for you. Appreciate you guys.