LIVE: Cowboys Break Podcast | 8-11-25 | Dallas Cowboys 2025

LIVE: Cowboys Break Podcast | 8-11-25 | Dallas Cowboys 2025

Heat. Heat. Go Cowboys. Go Cowboys. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Hey, Heat. Go cowboys. Go Cowboys. Heat. Heat. Go cow boys. Go Cowboys. Heat. Heat. Heat. Go Cowboys. The following is a production of DallasCowboys.com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. How about you? Go. Let’s go, baby. Are you ready for a break? Yes. Are you ready for a break? Absolutely. Ready for a break? Yeah. And um so much for that. It’s time for the break on dallascowboys.com. We were on the break with Amar Garcia, Brian Bris, Vach Lombardi, and Derek Eagleton. Hello guys, welcome back to another episode of The Break. We are here live. This is presented by LG. I’m here with Botch and Brian Bras. We’re back in the studio. Derek is still at camp. The Cowboys are still at camp. They’ll be breaking down camp on Thursday and coming back to Dallas. So, that should be fun to have everyone back in the norm in the studio getting ready for the season. But the Cowboys did play their first preseason game. They lost against the Rams 3121. We all know the score doesn’t matter at all, but the game is here to analyze, to fully evaluate these players. So, I want to start the question with you guys. Who was the player that stood out to you that caught your eye that you’re like, “This guy, he might not need to play the next two games.” I think everybody that played should probably play again and play some more. Uh these are these are guys that need a whole bunch of reps and uh that’s most likely why they got those reps. Now, I am curious and later in the show, we can kind of talk about this, but it not not so much as the guys that played, but more so like when they played like, okay, Robert Rochelle and uh uh Booth were first, but Israel was with the second half team. I’m just kind of curious about why some of those guys, you know, like when they went was more like interesting to me. Uh but for the most part, everybody needs a lot more reps. you know, the guys that didn’t play. I was expecting Tyler Booker and company to play, but maybe the, you know, thinking behind that was we just had this rough practice with the Rams, so maybe we don’t have to see this. I’m not quite sure what, uh, coach has to say about that. I’m sure that they’ll ask him, but, uh, the guys that played this week definitely going to play some more next week, plus some more. So, we’ll see. Zion Childers needs to start at Nickel Corner for this football team. And uh you know we’ll see what happens you know with with Hall and but there there needs to be competition for that spot and and I’m just kind of wondering guys is the answer for this going to be okay then you’re going to get Bland to play. They’re going to figure out okay who’s the opposite corner? We know it’s Elim Bland and now who is that nickel corner? But to me I think there needs to be really some open competition there. They they the Rams clearly had an idea and in a scrimmage you’re kind of like, oh man, they they’re picking on guys here and I think they were picking on Hall a little bit and you know with four targets, four receptions right there. I don’t think he was as comfortable playing in this thing and and you know and we’ll see. Let’s see if Children’s Let’s see some others. This team desperately needs somebody to come back from injury. They need Carson, somebody like that to come back. They I I think to me, you know, everybody’s asking me what about going out and getting somebody brought us. I think they’re going to try and address this with a couple of different guys, Butler and and and Carson, and see if they can do it that way. It might not be good enough, but this nickel quarterback spot needs to be re-evaluated and opened up for competition. I agree with Votch. Everybody that played in that football game the other day needs to have another crack at it against the Ravens this week. So, Brian, let me ask you this. The coaches said, “We’re coming out with our seven iron. We’re not really showing too much.” And you know, the one thing that kind of whooped the the Cowboys on defense, just in my own personal opinion here, is the ball came out quick. So there was no real pass rush and when they ran the ball, they double teamed everybody inside, right? So do you think that maybe the corners would play better if coaching wise, right, we’ll say, “Hey, maybe we shouldn’t give up so much room cuz the corners play off of a whole bunch and the Rams were able to get that timing off. They was able to get those those faster um quicker throws off.” So Donzraaku is the guy that we were looking for to make some, you know, some sort of pass rush impact. We didn’t see anything from him or the other edges. They were close. They were almost there, but the ball was out so quickly. Do you think that the quarterbacks would play corner better if the pass rush was better for I thought when they played zone coverage, they were not very good. I mean, you to me when linebacker depth and then corners in zone were not particularly good, you know, and that and that’s where uh you know, when you talk about depth and where guys, you know, how how you driving on the football, you know, how are you reading it? Are you coming forward and all that? Yeah. And to me that that was there were opportunities. I felt like that the main thing was it looked like to me pressure was going to come twist front and then it was going to be okay let’s try and twist as a rocku let’s do something like that let’s bring Lee a foul as a blitzer you know we saw that ball’s gone ball’s gone yeah and so but if you’re going to play a lot of zone coverage be able to drive on the zone drive out of the zone I I felt like to me there were linebackers I felt like that Demone Clark went back to kind of some of his old ways of playing football and he didn’t look really aware in some of the coverage stuff. You know, you saw some balls that were thrown beyond the linebackers and corners and safeties not reacting quick enough. You know, that to me is if you’re going to play zone, react. I just felt like in that game they need they didn’t react quick enough for the coverage things they were playing. So, might that might be to your point though. Sure. You know, how do you create more pressure? You know, and there were a couple of times where they’re close. I thought I you know, you you look at you look at Houston and and that and how he was able to play a little bit there. Uh, you know, I I felt like that Tyrus Wheat, you know, when you look at him, I think Tyrus Wheat had a good game when it came to the pass rush and playing run defense. He was really one of the more complete defensive players that you had in that game. So maybe some scheme will help them. But man, if you’re going to play zone coverage, react quicker to the ball. It looked like to me a lot of staring in the back field and then when Bennett let it go, there were guys that were the separation was was they couldn’t make up for it. Well, I think on both sides of the field overall, there are a lot of things to work on and areas of improvement for this team, but let’s start with the quarterback position specifically. Joe Milton, he’s a guy that everyone has been wanting to see. You know, he has some ups and downs during training camp, not necessarily being precise a lot of the times, but you do see him have a very strong arm. He’s able to run. He’s very physical. He he he has those characteristics that you hope he can show up on the field on a game and perform. He put it on later in the game and then we did get to see a little bit of Will Greer right at the end of the game as well. But starting with Joe Milton specifically, what is your assessment, your analysis on the way that he played that day? Well, thing about Joe Milton is, and you know, we’re gonna try not to be told you so tight people here. We’re just going to tell you what happened. Joe Milton was always a guy that’s developing, that’s working on himself. And there was this conversation when Joe Milton first got here, like, hey, this he still may have to earn quarterback, too. I know a lot of people ate the cheese and they may not like number number four, and they thought that this was going to be an easy way to get Dak up out of here. I I don’t think Dak felt any kind of pressure at all coming from coming from Joe. If if anything, this was Joe versus Will Greer. And Will may not have the physical traits that Joe has, but Will can kind of make those throws. He can keep things simple. He can hit the layups, keep things on the rail, and then if it’s wide open for me, I can scramble for a touchdown and things like that. Joe has to hit the layups. And it’s all like processing with him. We all knew he he can throw the ball 80 yards, 60, 70 yards velocity. But sometimes you got to take velocity off those throws. Sometimes you just got to uh those throws. uh Florenoi and me and Brian had this conversation a bunch. We thought that with Milton at least that we had a quarterback that can give wide receivers looks now so we could properly evaluate these guys. Florenoi would be having a fantastic day right now if he would have caught those two wide open pass he had. So um you know Milton has some room to grow. He didn’t quit uh because he did throw a touchdown to um VTO Fairweather and the two-point to Holden and those two passes had some some touch on him, but it’s like consistency with Joe and that’s his biggest, you know. Yeah. I think I think the thing with Joe is you saw the best and the worst of Joe and to me you know that that where Joe’s decision making I think you can question and you know when you have a third down situation and there are four options three of them are really really good and the one is the most difficult throw you can ever make and he takes option four that that’s that’s troubling right there you know that’s a guy that hasn’t played a lot of quarterback and or hasn’t played a lot of NFL quarterback back. You know, he’s trying to fit the ball inside to to Tolbert when he’s got options underneath, whether it’s a tight end, another receiver. You talked about Vaj talked about the play. You’ve got to reward your receivers for getting open. You got to res you got to reward them for the release off the line and their ability to get down the field. He was able later to do that though. If you look at with with Holden, Holden did a great job later in the game along the sidelines of keeping the route wide and now that allowed Joe Milton to fit the ball in between the safety and a and behind the corner. Those are the kinds of things that you need to do. Votch mentioned the the touchdown pass, nice touch play off his back foot, off balance. Those are the things that Joe is very capable of. But you’ve also got to be able to see like on the fourth and three run, you know, you’ve got to take the ball and you’ve got to go and you’ve got to try and get the first down. You have to dive, burst, whatever you have to do to go get that. You know, you make the throw on third and three, the previous play to that. You go for the tollo ball when you maybe had the route, you had something underneath where you could have checked it down and then all of a sudden it’s a first down. You’re keeping things moving. Joe does spectacular things. Joe does crazy ass things, too. And that’s what you kind of get with Joe Milton. You could get some beautiful football and then you could also get that what is he seeing and what is his decision making and what’s his process going through right now. That’s something that’s going to have to be refined. Now Brian BRS, let me ask you a question. Joe Milton threw the ball 29 times. Okay. And we opened up the football game throwing six times in a row. Do you think that’s on the coach? Do you think that’s the coach’s just trying to get him reps and that’s not what a real Cowboy game plan would look like? cuz they’ve been preaching run the ball, run the ball, run the ball, but Joe’s throwing it a bunch. Not even setting up Joe’s throws with the run. Do you think in a real life situation, Dax will come out throwing the ball 78? This This bothers me so much, guys. This is the thing that bothers me the most. And you have to know the condition of your team as a head coach. And I said this very early in that game, the Rams were punishing you with the number of plays they ran. Your defense was gassed. You go two, three and outs in a row. And fortunately for the Cowboys, they were able to find some things. The defense would have been a damn mess. So to me, that’s really that’s on on Brian Shottenheimimer right there. You know, find ways to kind of okay, if you want to mix in a run or two like that, just kind of keep things give Floo and those guys a chance to catch their breath, maybe make some little adjustments, whatever they want to do, get the SK the get the scheme back in order, try and kind of figure some things out. But to go out there and throw six straight passes like that and have some of them just be crazy type passes, but that should have been that’s on the head coach. You know, that’s on the play caller. And maybe he was trying to get them back in the game and kind of see what Joe was going to do. But with Joe, that’s probably the worst thing you could do with him, making him have to try and force the ball because he’ll damn do that. But I I I I take I take Brian Shottenheimer need to look at himself a little bit and say, “Hey, my defense is a mess right now.” Yeah. I need to do something to try and help them a little bit. And I don’t think he did initially with the first two series that he called. Ambar, do you think that this is a competition now? Like is Will Greer like is there a possibility that he can fight his way into being quarterback too or you think we’re just locked in with Joe as the second guy? There’s is that a serious question? Sure. 100% say you damn right it’s a serious but how I say that in Spanish. I don’t know. I thought you might be kidding. I don’t know how it would be logged at all. If we get two more weird Joe Milton games and we get two more solid Will Greer games. Yeah, I think it’s worth talking about. I mean, Joe looks like he’s locked in. I’ve been wanting to see Will Greer again since the moment he came back and just mainly because the way he left the his last game here with the Cowboys, it was a preseason game. That was where he played such a great game. Dak Prescott was the one calling the plays that game. So that just gave me something worth waiting for. Like when he got back and signed with the team, I think he’s very much capable of taking that role and doing that job. I was pleased with what he did in that game. However, I would have liked to see more of him earlier on to where it wasn’t all the way down to the end. But I think he’ll get more opportunities. I just don’t think right now Joe Milton has locked. I you know, Amber, I like what you’re saying there. I think if they had to go win one game, Greer Greer would play. Yeah. I think if they had to play this season, I think they would go with Joe Milton. Give him the reps. Give him the reps. Yeah, for sure. That’s what I’m saying. Yeah. Well, let’s go ahead. Oh, already 14. Let’s go. We do this, man. I was about to jump into the next question. Let’s take our first break and when we come back, let’s get into the running back. What is currently happening at the running game and the running back position after the break. 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They’re keeping him out out of precaution, getting him rehab and do all that, but it’s nothing major. Now during the process of this they did bring back Malik Davis and he joined the squad and was able to just called up really quickly and was asked to perform and one of the guys that also play Phil Mafa. He is a guy that I thought did a very nice job when you look at what he was doing the way he was running the way he was cutting. I I I thought he I was very pleased with with what he did. player specific. What is your evaluation of all the running backs that played in that game? Brian, let me just ask you this first. Sure. Would you say that Jaydon Blue is locked in as the third guy? I would say so. Yeah, I would say so. I would say there was maybe even a possibility of being him being the second. Yeah. And I say that because I envision how they ran the ball with Davis how they want to run the football. I think Mafa to me and Ambar to your point, Mafa was really a complete back. He caught the ball, he blocked, and he ran well. He’s different though than the other backs. I think they visioned the having that burst and stuff like that. But I think for the first time out, I think Phil Mafa did a nice job. I kind of feel like that blue. Are you trying to tell me that maybe that Mafa would be the second guy or maybe that Blue would be the first guy, Mafa be the second guy, and you’re not going to worry about these veteran guys? I’m saying that people are super excited about the running backs that we saw this weekend, but they’re still like fourth and fifth guy, more than likely. or or or fifth and sixth guy because Lipkkey might be your last running back. So, we’re watching them and we’re excited about Maf. We’re excited about Davis and what they did for you here. But they still got to go out there and fight for their life. I still think that those older guys are going to get the nod. I think Jayden Blue is as well. And Lipkkey, they we’ve seen in camp how involved Lipkkey is. It’s not just he’s lining up at fullback like that’s his job. Like he’s the motion guy for the most part. He’s the shift guy for the most part. So, as excited as we are about Maf and Davis, they still might be practice squad type guys, maybe possibly, but I mean, they ran well and on their biggest runs. I got to give credit to the offensive line. Um, Bass and um Hoffman, Hoffman, they did a really good job comboing on the inside getting off to the linebackers. And when they blocked that thing nicely on the inside, that’s when those big runs came. And, you know, shouts out to Phil Moffin because his running style is something that we can’t see at camp because we can’t tackle to the ground. He finally got a chance to thump and move folks for a little bit, right? But, uh, I still think that those guys are fighting fighting for their life, right? And and poor Deuce, he gets on the field and we just going to run the ball all day. Yeah. And Milton kind of throws him a little screen here or there. You’re not really helping Duce. So, I I would love for the coaches to do is to give Deuce another fair shot at it and let him get his carries because he’s also fighting. Yeah. The thing with the thing with Maf is though I think he has a different running style than the all the other backs and and so that that makes him unique in that way. But can you also if you had to dress 48 is Hunter Lipky’s running style similar to Mafas and that’s how you get Hunter Lipkkey on the field you know and all of a sudden he becomes that that kind of that power back but I I can’t say anything wrong about Mafa. I mean I I didn’t have high expectations of him you know coming out of Clemson. There were other running backs I clearly liked in the draft. But I mean, I I I appreciate what he did in that game the other day because like I said, I think there was some complete elements to his game. He had a blitz pickup that was that gave Joe Milton a chance to get the ball to the outside. You he ran the ball with some toughness and he caught the ball. I wish that they would have had Duce Vaughn in the game on that red zone screen down there. I mean, uh we talked about Bass and Hoff and they just didn’t get outside quick enough down there or they might have had a little bit better play. Maybe you had a guy that had a little bit more wiggle to him might have made the play. But but you can’t you can’t fault uh you can say I’m I’m excited about what I saw with Sanders and I’m excited about what I saw with Blue. And then to me, like I say, Davis just gave me that Davis gave me that ability when he attacked and showed quickness and explosiveness. That’s how I think they envision this offense when it comes to running the football. Now Brian, let me ask you something because Phil Mafa big as hell. Do you think he has a future on kickoff maybe to where he can try to, you know, teams his way onto the roster? Yeah, that’s the thing about it is these guys whoever is that third back is going to have to play some special teams. Blue is a return guy at least. Blue is a return guy at least. But that’s like I say and and now we’re going to start to see I think more returns in the NFL because we’ve seen a little bit of you know these kickers and I was watching some of the games this weekend. Not everybody’s just taking the ball out of the end zone anymore. The ball’s now at the 35. They’re trying to chip the ball down there in a corner and let So the kickoff return element of the game I think is going to start to come back. So if you have guys that have that kind of ability that might show up. One more thing about running back if I may please. Uh Shanheimer says something interesting the other day. I don’t know if y’all heard him but he was like uh yeah man it was about to be an emergency and we didn’t have to get Crop to come be the emergency running back. Did you know Jaylen that Jaylen Craropper was possibly a running back to do some emergency things? Brian brought us like No, I did. I did not know that. Did you see that in his um I forgot what school he went to. It was like uh Washington State or something. No, he one one of one of them pack schools. One of those pack I did not see I did not see uh Craropper as a run. I didn’t see him at training camp. I know. I was I try and kind of notice everything. Fresno State Fresno Fresno State school by the way. Shotty let that slip a little bit. Yeah, we didn’t have to we didn’t have to go to Crop for the emergency running back situation. I was like, “Oh, that’s I might want to see that.” He’s a little bit bigger guy like that. So maybe you can’t hand him the ball. Okay, my fault. Go ahead. Well, Botch, since you keep bringing the coaching, let’s just jump right into it and then we’ll go back to player evaluation. Um, coaching on both sides of the ball. Again, this is the first time we see them kind of put something together and keep in mind that what they’re doing in the preseason is going to be different than what they do once the once week one is here. But based on some of the decisions that were made uh during the game, Yeah. what what what are you feeling like? What are your thoughts on what the coaches did and are doing? So, I’ll say for Shotti, I want him to either find his groove as a play caller or let somebody else do it. Um, I don’t know if that’s how he’s going to call plays in real life. We’ll have to get to week one to see. But, you know, the Cowboys just never got in the rhythm. Like, three passes off the bat, three and out. Three passes off the bat, three and out. Now, your defense is down. Now, your running back can’t get a rhythm. Your, you know what I’m saying? Now your O line doesn’t really have a feel for what they’re doing now. So I would like for Shenheimer to go in the game too and kind of fix that a little bit. Um I flu cuz he getting some too all this week. They need to work on run fists and tackling. Yeah, I agree. Run fits and tackling. They need to work on not getting turned. They need to work on not getting two guys in in the in the same gap. They need to work on double teams because if the league is watching film and they see your inside guys getting double teamed and moved all the way out the wazoo, then you would have to imagine double teams are coming. So, we’re going to have to work on those things. Um turning uh not turning and like getting washed, but like turning to beat the double team, take a knee, get low, uh make a pile, like those different double team beating techniques. They’re going to have to work on those because I think the league’s coming for you. I’ll give them credit for two things. I think that to me they settled both units down though. There was some really some anxious moments and I mean anxious for a preseason game where you’re like going gosh this looks awful but then they were able to kind of get you know the the defense were able to get a couple three and outs they looked a bit better maybe some things they said okay we can’t do this we got to try and do that you know offensively a lot of the things offensively the problems that you had in my opinion were because Joe Milton just was the way that he was kind of managing the game and I mean managed it with some of the throws initially with the first couple of series his inability to to to to really to to complete anything and kind of get you into a little bit of a rhythm. Uh I got into discussion this morning with somebody about this on Twitter and about they feel like that this team isn’t tough because the head coach isn’t tough, you know, and I and I and because his personality is not that way. And so, but you know, I I think all these coaches are different. I’m going to say this. I don’t think this guy is Aaron Glenn. I don’t I see when you watch the now you watch the Jets and Aaron Glenn on the sidelines the other day that you know against Green Bay that looked like a a tougher football team, a mentally tougher football team. So this guy is not going to be that way. But it’s not to say that his team’s not going to be tougher, you I think the way he’s practicing and trying to go about it, I think is a positive thing, you know, and but you know, yeah, the injuries have happened and all that, but I think he’s doing things to try and make his football team tougher in that way. But I totally agree with Vods though on things they need to work on in the defense, the the whole thing with the fits, the this is all going to be about gap control and fits. If they’re bad at their fits this year, this team will struggle playing the run. I was just going to say real quick. Yeah, just know that most things that are posted on social media doesn’t really show the full picture of what is actually happening at camp. And if you want to take a look at that, you I recommend you guys go out to Oxnar and and watch a practice live because there are moments where you you’ll hear that he is tough on these these guys and the way that he will address the team. So, two things don’t necessarily need you, you know, being a jerk doesn’t equate to you being tough. I think he he knows how to handle the players. He’s creating a really good communication’s big communication. Exactly. And he’s he and created that creating that culture for for this team that we’ve always wondered, oh, what’s the culture? What kind of culture the Cowboys have? And I think that he’s building on that and he is tough. We’ve seen the players when, hey, run sideline to sideline, the the punishment for fighting on on on the field and the times that the players have to get down on the ground and do push-ups and things like that. So, again, I don’t think he he’s cuddling these players, but it’s going to have to show up on the field on real game day as well. I think the internet is looking for excuses. They’re looking for reasoning right now. Like Tony Dunie is a is a tough coach and he has he has unreasonably nice face. You know what I mean? you you just quiet demeanor though. Very very Tom Landry like but but kind of same fiery type personality. You you just you just can’t say that we’re I think first and foremost I think Shan um um Shawn McVeyy’s scheme Yeah. eats talent alive. Like if if you’re going to get to the regular season versus Rams, you’re not going to out scheme that. You need dudes to make plays. You need better dudes to beat dudes in front and like win matchups. That’s how you beat Shawn McVey. Robert Rochelle and you know and no disrespect to be guy uh Mazy Smith like they’re they’re not enough to beat that scheme. So when you see those guys getting pushed around three techs don’t normally get double team. One text don’t normally get double team like scheme wise that’s all they did in that game. Scheme wise is not much you can do with that situation but get a better dude also would probably do better in that situation that’ll make the Rams do something different. Now your B gap guy is not getting double team. So, there has to be a reaction from from the Cowboys to make the Rams do something different. If the Rams keep doing one thing and it’s working, then the Rams are are going to keep doing that. And I can understand how that makes you look soft or whatever, but a better talent would deal with that. If you just take a look at the game, Perion Winfrey didn’t fall for the same kind of tricks that Toia fell for or um Brown fell for, right? Like, you know, you you just need talent to beat those. Perion didn’t play salt at all. And and if you were in camp, you would see Shotti has to slow guys down some like, hey, we don’t hurt each other type thing, right? So I don’t I don’t want the internet to get too out of hand with, oh well, Shotti is a man. Shotty cuss everybody out. No, that’s Yeah, that’s what the discussion I had this morning. I’m like, man, I I you know, I’m he’s his personality is not that of an Aaron Glenn. I mean, it’s just different. It’s the way it is, isn’t it? It’s Yeah. Let’s take our final break. When we come back, let’s dive into the offensive line and what how are those guys currently looking? I know, Vot, during the time that you were out at camp, you couldn’t stop talking about them. I can never I can never stop talking about that this morning. We’ll talk about that after the break. If you can’t be at the stadium, there’s no better way to watch your Cowboys than on an LG OLED EVO TV. That’s because everything you see is more lifelike. Every play, every hit. I mean, you might as well be on the sidelines. That’s how clear it is. It’s all thanks to LG’s legendary technology. Perfect black. Over 8.3 million self-lit pixels. No one comes close. LG OLED Evo is the best TV in the game for a reason. See for yourself at lg.com/ OLED evo. It’s the official men’s skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys. Jack Black. And right now, Cowboys fans can get 15% off their $75 order. Plus, because every deal needs a playmaker, your order will include a free fivepiece skin care set and free shipping. The Jack Black Playmaker is four of Jack’s favorites in a full-sized intense therapy lip balm. 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Lucasey, the official boot of the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. AT&T has a new guarantee because most things in life are not guaranteed, like getting through selfch checkckout by yourself. Warning. Each item must be placed in the bagging area. Not guaranteed. Place item in the bagging area. Place item in the bagging area. You know what AT&T guarantees? Connectivity you depend on, deals you want, and service you deserve. Or we make it right. Firms and conditions supply. Visit att.com/garante for details. AT&T connecting changes everything. Back to the break. AT&T connecting changes everything. There’s a lot of letters in these reads. A T E L G O L E D E. They try and confuse you. They try to get you, but we thank them for being on board with I appreciate y’all dropping that bag on us. Appreciate y. They connect everything and everybody. All right. Welcome back to the third and final segment of the break. We are jumping into the offensive line. B, I’ll just throw it right at you because you’ve been waiting to see these guys perform and then now you got a look at a live game. Yeah. What was your assessment? I know Brian was mad as hell watching those guys on the ground. Brian hate offensive lineman on the ground and it was a little bit of flopping around here and there. I think they’re another group that had to settle down. I think the play calling kind of, you know, offensive offensive linemen need rhythm as well. We need rhythm as well. And sometimes, you know, you want to you want to hit guys first and not get hit first. You know what I So, it’s it’s um I think that was that was heavily impacted with those guys. I think continuity is important. I think Austin Richards kind of played everywhere. He didn’t get settled in one spot. I I saw something pregame that said he was taking snaps at at at center. I was like, that’s new. Yeah. And when you see guys moving around like that, like when Josh Ball started playing guard or Wesco started playing guard, Austin Richard starts playing everywhere, including center, I mean, I don’t know what that means for him. Uh Nathan Thomas seems solid, but he’ll fly out of his stance to try to catch somebody quicker. Um he needs to just, you know, kind of relax in his set or just figure out the balance between urgency and relax, you know, but he, you know, he’ll be fine. Like I said, Hoffman and Bass, uh they worked well on combos later in the game in the run department. That was that was fun to watch them. Uh, Brian, you feel like Lao Collins wanted to just whoop people real bad and, you know, he had to find his balance and get right, but when he when he caught some of those guys, it was uh it was a lot of aggression over there. What you What you think about Leo Collins, Brian Bron? He looked like he hadn’t played in a long time. He looked he looked off. Look, he just it was it was it was, you know, and and he hasn’t played in a long time. In the workouts and stuff like that we saw, we saw the power. Uh he tried to do an old school Tyrant Smith throw you up the field on a draw play. You know where Tyrant sets and then turns and spins and just hammers that guy and then they go flying up the field. Leo Flut tried to uh tried to hit Muhammad on him one time and Mohammed just stopped. It reminded me of catching a really heavy fish where you think you’re going to set the hook and you just it just stops on you. Yeah. And L caught he his balance wasn’t great. uh he looked a little bit more stiffer movement wise than what I had seen. So the six plays that he got um I think that and there was one time too he went second level got into the linebacker and then kind of lost his balance. So uh it looked like a guy that hadn’t played football in a long time. I will say this Vot and correct me if I’m wrong. I thought that Austin Richards was the best lineman that they had. I don’t disagree. And he and he and he played everywhere and and he late in the game he played left guard but he played left tackle. Now we could talk about the alignment stuff and all that and you could clearly see it and I couldn’t tell from the sideline copy. It looked like to me that he was up on the ball, but then you look at the official to that side the second time the officials like puts his hands up like I’m going to throw this flag again, you know, and but you could kind of see that uh you know, but the but the the things that that Awesome Richards was able to do, I was encouraged by Bass and Hoffman. They played the whole game and and kudos to them. And then later in the game, Bass got some opportunity to play some center. Did they switch a little bit? They switched a little bit there. I I I I like I said, how do you feel about about Hoffman? You know what I Hoffman is a backup and and Vot and I have talked about this a bunch. Hoffman for two, three games just fine. Hoffman for six games, you’re probably going to see some some some crazy moments there. Sure. But I I I I started to see like I say because they didn’t use Bass at all. Bass last year looked like he regressed. I think Bass is back to some of the level of play that we’d saw two years ago from him uh when he was an undrafted rookie. But I I was I was encouraged by some of the things the protection wise where they had some of their biggest problems is when it turned into tight ends having to block and pass protection. They tried some max protect stuff to maybe give Joe Milton a little bit more time, but man, it was now the Adeny sack was a bad one. I mean, that was a one-legged football player and he got knocked off balance and, you know, he got run around there and that he had a bad day, I think, all together. That was a bad that was a really really bad situation, but the adeny, the tight end staying in, uh, those those were some more of issues than really what was going on with the five guys uh, throughout the day. Now, Brian, we um we saw uh a bunch of different run looks. Like, we saw some draws, we saw a counter, we saw a trap, and I thought about you when I saw a trap out there. Brian Bros, you uh you think that this is them trying to figure out what run blocking situations work best for? Yeah, I think this we were all really gung-ho pin and pull guys and then we kind of figured out that when you and I we had a chance to visit with the coaches the third day of the draft that it’s like, listen, if we can’t pin and pull, we’re not going to pin and pull. Yeah. but they’re kind of trying to figure out what they have athletic abilitywise. They’ve got two really athletic tackles when you start to talk about with steel and then what Gayton is going to be. So to me that’s you know that if you can get these guys all together and start playing the quicker the better because that’s going to be important. But I think they’re searching for schemes and ways to run the ball. The draw play was really well executed. Everybody got to where they needed to be. the sets. They got everybody fanned out and then they were able to to attack. Now, Brian, on the draw, did you notice the left tackle didn’t just lead his guy on the field? He he he set and then he ran up to the to the Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. I I I saw that and I had to text Duke Manny Weather. I said, “Sir, is this new?” And he says, “They people been doing it for years, but it’s new here.” So, I was new here. Yeah. I was shocked. So, they’re trying they’re trying to figure out what their guys can and cannot do. And I I applaud coaches for trying. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. You saw a mixture of different things. So, this is the time to try it. If any in any time to try it, this is the one. Okay, let’s move into We didn’t really get into wide receivers. Anyone stand out to you at wide receiver? No, cuz Joe Milton was throwing that thing everywhere. But, uh, like I mean, like we said, but looking at guys who were running and getting open, making sure they’re open. Floroi did a really good job. Mingo didn’t get a chance again. Mingo didn’t get a chance. Uh, Tan Holden is going to continue to separate himself, I believe. I think he’s close to kind of making this thing, you know. Uh I think the other guys are kind of fighting him off right now. And if he keeps making plays in games and in practice, I I think it’s going to be hard to keep uh holding away from those guys. Yeah, the the way that it was pretty simplistic some of the routes and stuff like that with the Mingo and things. I the thing that the Florenoi interception down the middle of the field that was Joe just like he he was he was committed to throwing that pass. He was not interested in trying to, you know, check that thing down. He he moved to his left and just let it fly. And you know, unfortunately, but Fenoi, the crossing route, you know, give give Brooks a lot of credit for his ability uh to to open that thing up on the crossing route because they go vertical with they go vertical with Brooks and then they drag it with Fenoy and it really put the Rams in some bad spots. Joe’s got to hit that one. That’s going to be a huge play. But yeah, I I think overall though that you look at the receivers and and they they had some guys that played I mentioned like I you mentioned Holden. I think he did a very smart thing as a rookie. You know, the ball I mentioned the ball that went over the top to him on the sidelines. He did a great job of staying wide and and he stayed along the sidelines because if you drift to the middle all of a sudden now you’re bringing the safety into play. and Joe saw it, Joe read it and and Holden stayed along the sidelines and then the ball was fit in right there where it needed to be and they were able to make that play. So, you know, there was some very positive things about these wide receivers. I just kind of feel like that it’s it’s like, you know, who can you get Tolbert going again? Can you get Mingo? Can you get I mean, there’s there’s guys these next two weeks I I think, you know, they always say, “Oh, it’s going to be a difficult situation.” This might be a difficult situation for them at wide receiver because I think there’s some guys that are playing at a decent level right now. They just need to find ways to completely separate them from the other guys. Now, Brian Broadus, if your last name was Shottenheimimer going into this game, too. Yeah. Do you prioritize Joe Milton reps or do you prioritize giving the wide receivers looks? You’re saying, didn’t you put You’re talking about putting Will Greer in the game and being accurate throwing the ball? Yes sir. Because if you want to give Milton reps, then you go then he goes a whole another three and a half quarters. Yeah. But your wide receiver like we didn’t I didn’t see much from from Tobert and Tober was out there like he was he was around but we didn’t he caught the screen and it was like a minus one or something like that. If your last name was Shenheimer, do you let Dak call plays and let Gre get some more and maybe he can get the ball around these guys so that we can get a look from the receivers? Why would he let Dak call the plays? Because it works for Will Greer. It works. And if Yeah, but for himself, he he needs those practices as well. That’s fair. I’m just being I’m just being commentary guy. That’s 100% fair. Okay. So, cool. That call plays better than Shine the preseason. Fine. But do you how do we how do we get a better Yeah. I think I think a lot of this is probably going to come down to practice reps like in practice and what what was maybe this week what you need to do now is elevate some of those guys. just, you know, just give some of these guys the give the Mingos, give the Tolberts, give the Floraways, give give them more looks in practice with the ones because like I I like I say, I think Will Greer is going to play the whole game, the final game. That would be my my bet. And maybe you’re going to have some guys that are going to have to play, but the guys that are going to play in the final preseason game are going to be like Holden, Josh Kelly, guys like that. So th those it’s not going to be I don’t know if it’s going to be guys like with with with uh with Brooks and others. But if it is in that final game, boy, but to your question, yes, I’m trying to find a way to kind of to to button this thing up at receiver. I like Milton a whole bunch, but he’s more like in three years for me. Yeah. Just me personally, I’m trying to see if I can take those traits and do some later on down the line. So by the time you hit your contract end, hopefully you’ll be developed. But if I’m trying to go out there and get a look for my receivers or try to win a game or two, I’m going to go with GR. I don’t I don’t disagree with you on that. As much as I like Joe Milton and how crazy it could be and the big playability that Joe Fun Why did you see him running around? Oh, yeah. It’s it’s it’s it’s but if you want to if you really want to evaluate your receivers, I think that I think that Will Gurr gives you a better shot right now. Yeah. I think I give him a quarter next game. Maybe maybe two. Maybe two. And then by halftime I’m like, “Okay, let’s switch it up.” The Ravens are no joke on defense ain’t even with their backup guys. This will be this will be a big challenge for whoever plays quarterback in this thing. They got four backup running backs better than all our I was jealous as hell watching them. Boy, Katon Mitchell was going crazy. They got Ernest Johnson off the Ernest Johnson and um Rashen Ali, the guy that we like from Marshall. They got all those guys and Derek Her even playing. I was sick as hell watching the R. They gonna beat the hell out of this boy. No, they not. Well, before we end the show real quick, I know we touched on defense at the beginning of the show. Is there any other name that either stood out to you in a good way or another name that needs to really put in the work for this upcoming game? I’ll talk about Perion. I’ll let Brian talk about Maris if he wants to. But, uh, you know, Perion jumped out to me, flashed to me. He got double teamed as well, but he beat those, um, double team blocks and they tried to misdirect him. If anything, Perion does need to settle down and use his eyes a little bit more because sometimes he’ll kind of overrun some things and Lil Fowler overrun some things, too. Uh, but I really saw Perion flash. I think he’s he’s going to make the team. And I can respect his sense of urgency. Like, he’s playing like a guy that’s getting an opportunity after being in the league, leaving the league, going to the USFL, and getting back into the league. Like, he’s playing like one of those guys. And if I can give a shout out to one of the later linebackers, Darius Harris, he’s a he’s a veteran linebacker. Played solid for us. And Buddy Johnson made a made a cool um coverage play or whatnot. So, shouts out to those. Couple tackles on special teams as well for Buddy Johnson. Sure, did too. Look out for those linebackers. Easy with the edges. Tyrus Weed, I think, showed up really well. I think he played well run and passed. I think that was a positive. Veteran James Harris, uh, excuse me, James Houston was able to come in. I thought he showed some things as a pass rusher. uh you know ability to win kind of played well against the run. Denzel Daxon I we haven’t talked about him very much in training camp and all that but if you talk about are asking guys to come off the ball be quick get into the block get into the gap and try and free yourself. I think I think Daxter was a guy that all of a sudden it’s like man he’s he’s making some things happen. He’s trying to be disruptive inside. Uh that was a good look for him for the preseason games. But late in the game, it kind of he both in and Toya, they got a little tall and then kind of got worked a little bit. But overall, I thought those two young guys uh were were they they showed up on the on the film that I was watching. And Leo Fa, he’s a guy that I’m I just love him. I I love him. I love the way that he plays and I am excited. That’s why that’s what when I ask you guys at first the first question I’m like that’s a guy that I’m okay if he sits out the rest of the See, but the thing with the thing with Marrison, this is what’s the beauty of him is how instinctive that he is able to play. But the the thing that he sometimes will do is he will run under a block. He will try and gamble. He’s almost like that that that cornerback that’s kind of like be a little bit I’m going to gamble for the interception here. I’m going to go for this. Maris, if they’re going to play fits, Maris, you can’t run underneath blocks and get pinned and then make the edge have to be it. All of a sudden, there’s a gap. You know, if you’re going to take it on, take it on and then force the back to have to make. But there was a couple of times there Miris can can read it quick, get there quick, but when he runs underneath blocks, and it happened a couple of different times, Shamar James did the same thing. Play with your hands, trust your eyes, extend, and get off the block and make the play. when you run under blocks and you get and you get pinned, you’re creating a big gap in your defense and that it usually ends up to being a big play with them running the football. Well, that is all the time we have for today. Thank you guys so much for tuning in. We’ll be back next uh we’ll be back on Wednesday. On Wednesday, that will be the last show for the week for this show and then we’ll get back next week, the following week for that last week of training camp. um for VC Lombardi, Brian Bradis, and Member Garcia. This has been the break on dallascowboys.com radio. This has been a production of DallasCowboys.com and the Dallas Cowboys football club. How about you, Cowboys?

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