
COWBOYS SQUAD SHOW: The Cowboys officially introduce new DC Christian Parker, with lots of rumors as the countdown continues to NFL Free Agency.
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Jeff Biggs
Foreign
Landon McCool
Podcast Network your team every day.
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Jeff Biggs
I'm Jeff Biggs and NFL free agency is now less than three weeks away. Not that we're counting.
Landon McCool
I'm Lana McCool and I'm glad to have an excuse to brush up on my Marcus Aurelius.
Jeff Biggs
We didn't hear you Aisha. But that's okay. We'll get you back.
Aisha Morrison
I'm Aisha Morrison and I am just kidding. Excited we got to hear from our new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
Glenn Stretch Smith
Love it.
Jeff Biggs
Can't wait to get into that Glenn Stretch Smith.
Glenn Stretch Smith
I I can't wait to get on with this show.
Aisha Morrison
How about them Cowboys? It's the Cowboy Squad. Everything Dallas Cowboys every week covering all the big hits and game changing plays from America's team. The way only the Locked On Podcast network can get ready and squad up. It's the Cowboy Squad show show starting now.
Jeff Biggs
That's right, you squat up because the Cowboys news never stops. And we welcome you to another edition of the Cowboys Squad Show. As always, we begin with a welcome to Aisha Multiple Morrison. Got a lot going on. We have the co host of the daily Lockdown Cowboys podcast, Landon McCool and former Cowboys coach Glenn Stretch Smith. Great to be with you Tonight we got the very latest on what's going on with the Cowboys. Who should they target in free agency? What is the best plan for the draft? How's that all going to go down? Maybe anything from the combine. We also have predictions for win totals. We'll get into those as well. But going to start with the big news of the day. Ayesha, hit on it. Cowboys introducing their new defensive coordinator, Christian Parker. Give us your first impressions and what were the big takeaways?
Landon McCool
Am I. Who's starting? Am I starting? Who should go?
Jeff Biggs
Yeah, we'll go with you, Landon.
Landon McCool
Yeah, I. I mean, I think. As advertised, right? I think we. We spent a long time having this knowledge that he was the defensive coordinator without having seen him. So I. I would say for most of us, his reputation precedes him. And, And I think from what we heard from other folks all around the league is that this guy's very well respected. He's. He's a. An impressive young man who's up and coming and. And smart, organized, has a clear vision for what he wants to do, is. Is dedicated and committed to that vision. And I think that came through in. In the press conference. He sounded confident. He sounded like he knew exactly what he was trying to get out of this defense. He had a clear plan. You know, look, a lot of these times with these press conferences, it's a lot of box checking, right? It's. It's a lot of platitudes. It's. It's. It's a lot of. Kind of just answering the obvious questions of are you qualified to be the defensive coordinator? Those. Those kind of things. So I think, you know, he handled it excellently. I think it. It's ultimately going to be about what he does on the field, obviously, but as far as being personable and being accountable and. And just, you know, know, all together enough to kind of handle a situation. As a young coach who's going into the teeth of the Dallas media, I thought he did a great job.
Jeff Biggs
All right. Aisha, how about you?
Aisha Morrison
I think what initially stood out to me was just how devoted he seems to the. You know, to the bit and how much he's just ready to get to work. I mean, there were even times they tried to kind of joke, and he was just like, yeah, yeah. And I mean, obviously he's personable, but obviously he also understands that when he took this job, he was taking on one of the worst defenses in NFL last year. So I think his plan, you know, you can tell he has a plan. You can tell that he's been thorough and just his. His demeanor and his presence. His presence is. Seems commanding and not in a bad way, so.
Jeff Biggs
Right. I like that. So, coach, it's going to be kind of 3, 4, ish, with some tweaks in between. What do you think of that and how does that work? What will that look like?
Glenn Stretch Smith
I mean, I think it fits, I think it fits where they're at from a personnel standpoint right now. I do believe that what it looks like, it's probably not much different because most teams today line up in one tight, one back is what they base out of. I do think that in some first down situations it's going to look like a three, four, you know, with you know what, what would be considered a true nose guard. Two guys, whether they slide six inches or not, kind of two guys that are over the tackle, you could argue whether they're going to be four eyes, fives, whatever you want to get to. And then two overhang players, which means two guys off the hip of those guys. Not a true five down scheme because those guys on the hips can drop. But you know, from what I've seen so far, it's, you know, same thing Vance Joseph does, the same type of thing that Vic Banio does, the same type of thing that Mentor does. I mean it's a, it bases out of a 34. Look now, you know, the, the only question mark I have is that when you, when you play that front to marry it to the back end is, it's not always easy. That's why everybody forever wanted to, I think, change to what I, and really it's an Okie front. I mean it's, ou's been running that front for years and, and, and what the challenge always was was to marry it with the back end and say, say stay sound from a coverage standpoint. So we'll see, we'll see if he can do that. Very young guy, I mean optics, optics was very young yesterday. So, you know, we'll see, we'll see if, we'll see if he can get that done.
Jeff Biggs
All right, well, a couple things that have stood out to me. I like the fact that he really went out of his way to stress teaching, number one. But number two, very refreshing to hear him say, you know, at the end of the day you gotta, you gotta build around what your players are and what your players can do. And I like, I like kind of leaving that, that flexibility in there to get him, you know, adjusted and once he gets comfortable with everybody trying to make, you know, the best calls and unit that he can, I, I, I
Landon McCool
also like hearing that, but I also feel like we hear that from every defensive coordinator, coach who comes through here. Like that's like so boilerplate at this point, like, oh, no, my system. My system's players first. And like, nobody wants to dare say that, hey, system is what allows players to shine or even stand up for their own systems anymore. So it's always just funny to me that, like, yeah, that, like, oh, my team. I believe him, you know, because I think that's part of why you have a multiple front is so you have the opportunity to. To kind of, you know, get guys into position to do what they do best and, and use those players the best way. But I, I also think that Matt Eberflus came in here and said the same thing almost a year ago today, and. And we ran a very, you know, stagnant system. So, yeah, again, ultimately it comes down to what they do on the field. But I, I'm excited based on just the diversity of influence that he has had that he's gotten on him. I mean, from Fangio to all, you know, all his different spots along the way and just kind of ingesting all of that and then hiring a. A coaching staff that, like I said, you know, we've talking about, like, the thing about the offensive way of attacking, you know, coaching is that they. They went out and got guys who lined up with their. Their philosophy on offense, and they went out and interviewed a ton of different coaches to kind of find the guys that they needed, and that was exactly what they did. On defense, there's a lot of alignment. It's easy to see the shared coaching trees that each one of these guys have with each other. And then you also, you know, think about the fact that, you know, they went out and interviewed 40 plus 40 of these guys. You know, like, that's. That's. That's an impressive number. And I think that that shows you that they really did a deep search and, you know, across NFL and college to find the guys that they needed to kind of teach the system that they're going to be putting in here.
Jeff Biggs
I like that. And so I was. Sorry about that. So what I was thinking is, you know, 40, like you said, right. I didn't get to hear the whole thing. I didn't get to hear the whole press conference. But did we. Did we learn anything else? Like, anything about what they might want to fix or what. What they might be looking for as far as the draft and free agency?
Landon McCool
Isha, what stood up to you there?
Aisha Morrison
The word development. That's something that stood out to me. I think that's something that's kind of going understated in NFL right now. I think everybody's kind of microwave about stuff. So the fact that we got to hear him speak about development, shoddy speak about development, and it's not just development for the players. You're also speaking about development. Again, as coach was talking about. There's a lot young coaches on this staff. And what stood out to me is that it sounds like they want to create an environment that whatever is built here can continue even as guys move on. And that's something that Dallas hasn't had in a while. And I. I'm looking forward to, you know, the development of these coaches. So there's not so many breaks and, you know, because guys are going to get a jobs and inevitably, yeah, so many breaks in consistency and language and, you know, scheme. But then also, too, in developing these players, he seems very focused on actually taking the time, like you said, to teach and to develop and to not just microwave these players into, you know, whatever you want them to be just for your specific team. They can translate.
Landon McCool
One of the things. One of the things I loved that he said is that he. They asked him about the continuity and how that was going to work, and. And he rightly said, this is a team that has had four defensive coordinators the last four years. What continuity is there? Like, I think that that's basically fair, you know, and. And I think he doesn't get this job if he doesn't have a plan for the personnel that's on this roster already. But I thought it was good to kind of point out, like, why. Why would we want continuity from what we've seen in the last, you know, 365 days and really beyond that? So I thought that was a really good answer by him.
Jeff Biggs
Was he asked about the secondary specifically? Did he talk about that?
Landon McCool
Yeah, one thing specifically I thought that he, you know, talked about a lot was someone asked him about the nickel position and how important that role was going to be in his defense. And again, I would argue you're not a modern NFL defense if the nickel role isn't important. It's a starting position nowadays. So I think, you know, there is some, you know, platitude aspect of that. But I do think that. I do think that you look at the way a lot of these defenses play nowadays, they're trying to find ways to keep their nickels out there all the time. And that's what Seattle is obviously famous for was. Was being able to match you with nickel no matter what kind of off offensive personnel package you put out there. So I. I think he talked a lot about the need to have a, a heavily versatile player at that role because of, of all the things that you're asking him to do. It'll be a bl. Be a run defender, you know, as an overhang, you know, in, in the past game, you know, having to pick guys up, having to drop into a hook or a flat like it's. And sometimes dropping into a safety, like if you're playing like something like quarters or something on that, or six on that side. Right. So I think that there's just a lot that's asked from that role specifically. And it's interesting. I think the reason he talked about it is because someone asked him about it specifically, but it was interesting to hear him kind of go deep onto that position. Positions and what he thinks is, is important for that role.
Jeff Biggs
All right, I like that. That's good. Well, we'll see. I mean, there's a lot to work there and a lot to do. And so as far as, did he mention anything that he wants to improve or anything that, that he's looking forward to really diving in and getting turned around as soon as possible.
Aisha Morrison
He said affecting the quarterback. Yeah, he obviously specified that affecting the quarterback is pressures and all that stuff. But stopping the run affects the quarterback. Yeah, those were the two things. And I mean, coach, I'm sure you can talk about it, but really, more than anything, it seems like he just wants to play sound football, but also to be creative and be able to play the matchup game week to week, depending on, you know, who it is that you're going up against and, and not just be, you know, narrow minded.
Glenn Stretch Smith
So. Yeah, I think, I think when you, when you look at the NFL today and how guys are wanting to play on the edges, I'm saying you've got to have physical corners. They have to come up and, and, and tackle. That's, that's, that's where we are today. I think that's the number one issue for me is everybody wants to talk about or give different names to certain fronts, certain stunts, certain coverages. There is no more new football being invented. Like that ain't new football being invented. What is happening is you're having an evolution, I think, of players and I think they are expecting guys to be able to do different roles and to play in a more physical aspect. When you look at today's secondary, I think the Cowboys, the one thing that killed them this year was ability to tackle on the perimeter. And so I think day one, these are all things that you hope that he goes in, understands and starts to insert himself in, playing with the correct leverage and attacking with the correct angle so that you can go get yourself in position to make a play. I mean, tackling is. Is. Is a. Want to. Tackling is a Give a gauge. It's what it is. And, and some guys are not afraid to go up in there, put their face in it, and other guys are like, you know, I'm really not. I'm a corner. I'm a. I'm a cover guy. And in today's. In today's football, you gotta have a more physical corner set of corners. And I'm saying set. That's three, because one of those guys got to go and be the nickel.
Jeff Biggs
Well, so I think it's gonna. Yeah, it's gonna come down to, you know, can they. Can we see that happen? Can we make, you know, can they make that happen? And like we talked about on Monday, can this defense really be fixed and, and can they get to a level where they can make a playoff run and. And be able to hold their own in. In a postseason game? And, you know, ultimately, you just hope that whatever. Whatever happens coming out of training camp, that they will continue to improve and get better and, and hopefully by year's end be, you know, the kind of unit that they're. They want to. That they're hoping for and that. That can lead them on a run.
Glenn Stretch Smith
And I think it's how you. It's how you teach and it's how you insert those techniques that. That's. That's. That's really what it comes down to. How do you teach it? How do you insert it? How do you, you know, how do you teach guys near foot? I mean, all the things that go into, in my mind, what is day one teaching? And I think Landon made a point. You know, all coaches are going to step to the podium and they're going to say, we're going to play to our strengths and we're going to put our position, our players in position for them to succeed and so on and so forth. At the end of the day, do you know how to teach it and do you know how to implement what it is that you're wanting to do? Do you understand how to teach it? Because that. That really.
Landon McCool
That's the most important. That's the most important right there. Sorry, not to interrupt, but that is the most important part, like knowing how to teach it. Right, Coach? Like how to actually get through to your players.
Glenn Stretch Smith
Yeah. How do you. How are. How are you going to teach what it is that you want done? We can all go out here and look at YouTube and look at all kinds of training videos, look at all kinds of everybody speaking this language and that language. You can do that, play Madden and do all that. Hey, do you know how to teach what you want those guys to do? That. That. That's my question. And you know what? We'll find out real. We'll find out real soon because, you know, the last group of guys did not get it done. So that's, you know, it's not being ugly to anybody. It's just, let's just state the facts.
Landon McCool
And it's good that the Cowboys went out and got the guy that Vic Fangio trusts to teach his guys how to. To run his system. Right. Like, I think that's a good sign. Like, you know, this, this is. Yeah, I think. Yeah. You know, like we said, the mandate from Schottenheimer was we need teachers. We need people that are going to teach these techniques. And I'm hoping that clearly they hit that target.
Aisha Morrison
Yeah, I think this.
Jeff Biggs
Okay, no, go ahead, Aisha, go ahead.
Aisha Morrison
No, we can do it off break.
Landon McCool
It's okay.
Jeff Biggs
Okay. All right, we'll do that when we come back. Some more thoughts from Aisha and we'll talk about maybe, you know what, what are realistic options for the Cowboys to improve their option not only in the draft but also in free agency, which will be coming up before that. We'll do that coming up. This is the Cowboys squad show.
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Jeff Biggs
All right, so welcome to the five Hour Energy Flavor Draft. That's right. We're looking at every aspect of the draft to let you know which tasty flavors are the best and which. This might be sleepers. The board is set, the flavors are ready, and only one is going to take the top spot. Now, here's the thing about 5 Hour Energy. It has a wide variety of flavors, something for everyone, and five Hour Energy shots give you a boost with zero sugar. So I was taking a look, and I think the best flavor for me would be cherry for sure. Right? Just love the taste. Smooth. No. No crash. No weird feelings. I mean, just.
Glenn Stretch Smith
It's good.
Jeff Biggs
Definitely helps if you're in the midst of a long day or you doing stuff and you just need a little extra and you don't want to have coffee or something in the afternoon. But I'll tell you what, with. With cherry, right? I mean, that's. That's kind of a common one. I don't know if that's going to make it to the top, but I think, you know, maybe a sleeper favor would be the new cotton candy flavor that they have. Confetti Craze is a sleeper one, if possible. And again, you can go with one of those or try something new or keep cherry as your top contender. So find out your new favorite of five hour energy shots available online at FiveHouseEnergy.com and or Amazon. All right, we are back. Cowboy squad show. That's former Cowboys coach Glenn Stretch Smith, Landon McCool, co host of the daily Lockdown Cowboys podcast, and Aisha Morrison, who is doing more shows than we can keep track of. So I won't even attempt to try to get him in there. Okay. So, you know, we're taking a look with the combine coming up, and we got NFL free agency and then, of course, the draft. So this week, the. The Max Crosby rumors, they've kind of. They've gone quiet. We're not hearing much about that. But every day there's some new, new trade rumor involving the Cowboys from Trades from rumors of moving up to get Caleb Downs, Minka Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins, Denzel Ward from the Browns. So all kinds of different scenarios. Not sure what the Cowboys are going to be able to do, but what are your thoughts, guys? What do you. What are you looking at? And, you know, realistically, can they. Can they do enough to. To turn this around and bring in some. Some talent to make this a good unit?
Landon McCool
I mean, they're going to do some, some things. You know, obviously they're going to be buyers. They better be buyers in some way. Like. Yeah, because they, they need to add talent. I think in some of the trade, you know, we kind of talked about the Max Crosby trade and, and you know, the economics of that and whether that was worth it. I think, you know, as you talk about the Denzel Ward and, and the Micah Fitzpatrick trade ideas, you know, I think it makes some sense because of, you know, where those folks are in their career and, and those are, you know, the kind of players that you look at and you know, sometimes there's different coaching staffs or in Miami's case, it's a full on fire sale. You know, I, I think you look at who's available and what you can get them for. Right. Like, so I, I think that's really gonna be the, the, the, the kind of I, the, the main driving force here is what's the price on, on someone like Minka Fitzpatrick, who is a 29 year old safety who I think is due something like, I mean, I'm just, I was off the top of my head. I think it's like $15 million, $16 million. It could be way more than that. But you know, so the question becomes like, is that something that you have an appetite for or would you rather solve that problem in free agency where there's you know, a lot of opportunity in free agency, including a guy that potentially played, that not potentially that did play for Parker in Philly? So it's kind of just weighing all the options. And do you like, do you want to give up a draft pick for the, you know, honor of having to turn around and pay these players sometimes a lot of money. Denzel Ward's another example, right? Like former first round pick. He's, he's, he's done very well for himself in the NFL. Do the rounds just aren't sure that they want to necessarily pay him. Like how do you, do you want that bad enough to go give up? I'm assuming it would take 20 and then, you know, potential for, you know, signing to a launcher deal. And it may take more than 20, it may take multiple picks. So I think the devil's in the details with all of these trade situations. Whether the Cowboys could use a Denzel Ward or Mina Fitzpatrick is, is the answer is obvious? Yes. But the question is like you have limited resources to solve a lot of problems this offseason. If you're giving those resources up in return for one of these players and having to use some of your pool of cash. Like, is that too much to spend when you've got a lot of malice to feed?
Aisha Morrison
It depends on the player. I feel like it depends on the position as well. I mean, when I think about like the linebacker position, it's long overdue that Dallas gets a veteran in there that's steady, that is going to stay for a little bit because, you know, you got these young linebackers that are trying to get a grasp on the game and they have a different veteran in there every year, a different philosophy every year. I think that position in particular is something that I would be looking for Dallas to be, you know, yeah, they could go out into the draft and grab a guy, but my God, you need a mic. And if you're gonna make a rookie a mic, then that's on you. So I'm tired of that. I mean, when it comes to the safety position, as you guys just talked about, sounds like it's going to be complex. Sounds like it's going to be a lot of communication and stuff. And to rely on a young guy to do that might be a lot. I know we saw Philly double dip and they saw success with that, but it took time. I mean, that Philly defense did not start off looking as polished as it ended up looking towards the end of the year, even last year. So for me, I'm. To me, it depends on what position we're talking about. When it talks, we talk about free agency. I think you can supplement with the draft with some places, but some of these key spots and like building, rebuilding a defense. I think I want a veteran at the center of it, you know, to kind of start things off. So that's kind of how I feel about free agency. But they knew they do need to pull out they pocketbook and put away them coupons. They gonna have to, you know, if they want to optimize. And I don't know how you feel about it, Landon, but this, you know, this free agency class has some decent, you know, some pretty good secondary players that are kind of sprinkled in there that Dallas could take advantage of. Also linebacker. There's some pretty good linebackers in this free agency class. So, you know, Dallas will have the opportunity. I get the money, but you know, what are we weighing? Because if you, you can go get a rookie and not spend the money, but if you're not getting the. The system implanted and you know, like, then why does it matter?
Landon McCool
Yeah, the more I think about it, like, honestly, I. I feel like I want to go spend. I would be not opposed to going out and spending big money and going to get someone like Devin Lloyd. Right. Because then I'm not forced to, to go like spend a first round pick on a linebacker, you know, and then maybe like, like, honestly, if you're, if you're looking for a plan here, go side Reed Blankenship, go sign Devin Lloyd and then a, maybe you're a nickel corner, right? Or a nickel corner and then use your two first round picks to go get an edge and another corner if you can. I think that's the probably. I mean, this is all wishful thinking because we'll see how it all plays out. You know, everyone's got a lay plan, a good lay plan until they get hit in the mouth.
Aisha Morrison
Is it wishful? Is it wishful?
Landon McCool
Well, I think some of you just don't know.
Aisha Morrison
It better be a plan.
Landon McCool
Well, the problem is, is that like for someone like, you know, you know, some of these top end linebackers, you just don't know like how, how much money some of these truly wealthy teams are going to just drop on because some of them have to spend to get over the floor, you know. So I think I would love for the Cowboys to kind of go and get a superstar or a top of the top end linebacker. So that kind nibbling around the edges like they have been the last year. I mean they really paid for it last year with, with Kenneth Murray who was just terrible. They spent $7 million on that. Like, wouldn't you feel better just to pay twice that and get someone you know is not only good but like elite, like top end? Like, I think to me that's where I would rather. You're gonna overpay. No matter what position you're playing, you're paying for, no matter who it is in the free agency, you're gonna overpay. If, if I'm gonna do that, I'd rather overpay at linebacker prices than overpay at cornerback and edge prices.
Glenn Stretch Smith
Who are you going to restructure to get this money?
Aisha Morrison
I think, I mean, everybody's.
Landon McCool
We've done this 100 times.
Aisha Morrison
Tyler Smith Dak CD yeah, I mean, that's just kind of how.
Glenn Stretch Smith
So when does that start? If, if that's. Yeah, I get it. We've done it a hundred times and they moved off square one. We can sit here and call it 100 times, but we still don't know that. So how do you and I understand the exercise that you're doing? But how do you know what kind of money you got until you go restructure what you currently have.
Landon McCool
Because the triggers are already built into the contract. So we know how much money they are capable of restructuring. That's why we. Because you know how much money is cap is able to be converted into bonus money as opposed to money that gets counted.
Glenn Stretch Smith
Okay, so with that being said now, now, now talk to me about the guys currently on your team. So, so. And then do you still have the financial wherewithal to go even make. Even make a play at Lloyd? I'm just asking you.
Landon McCool
Yeah, I think you can. I mean, we, we did. Like we said, we did the exercise. What was it a week and a half ago where we were able to freeze up something like. I mean it takes like just two of these to get the Cowboys over the cap, basically.
Aisha Morrison
Yeah.
Landon McCool
And then if you do another two, like, again.
Glenn Stretch Smith
I, yeah, I understand that. What I'm, what I'm saying is, is it, it, it feels like, do you. If Pickens is the priority, somebody you're gonna, Is it hooker that's going to be the cap casualty?
Landon McCool
Maybe. I, I don't know that you're saving a ton of money necessarily with hookup.
Glenn Stretch Smith
14 million.
Aisha Morrison
How much you save with.
Landon McCool
Well, I mean, you're gonna have to replace that. A starter that. It just adds another starter that you got to replace.
Glenn Stretch Smith
So I mean, again, again. How much after you sign, are you saying that they need to sign Javante?
Landon McCool
I, they can sign Javonte again. We, we did this exercise.
Glenn Stretch Smith
I mean, right now I'm saying this. What, what, what money do you have? What realistic dollars do you think you have to go put in place? Let's just say if you do want to, if you do want to make a play at Blankenship because, and I'm just throwing names Blankenship because he knows the system and Lloyd because that's what you need. I mean, do you, do you really have the financial wherewithal to sign Pickens, Brandon Aubrey, Javante, and who knows what happens with Clowny.
Aisha Morrison
Landon is saying that you have the money to do it. I think your question is, is, do they have this, Is it the sense, the stomach? Are you trying to figure they have
Landon McCool
the money to do it?
Aisha Morrison
Like
Landon McCool
in the NFL?
Glenn Stretch Smith
Fit it under the, and fit it under the. And sign those two guys. So, so what I'm saying is if you sign, if you sign Pickens, Williams and Brandon Aubrey, you still have money to go sign Lloyd and Blankenship.
Landon McCool
If you sign Pickens, like if you actually sign Pickens to a Long term deal, the money you're saving just on what he's going to cost year one versus what he would be making on the franchise tag.
Glenn Stretch Smith
What's a long term deal?
Landon McCool
Yeah, like a three or four year deal or whatever. Right, whatever. Like the, the money, the, the money change from that alone is enough to pay for Williams, Aubry and probably a, a third player. I mean, because we're talking. He's making 20. What is it? The, the, what's the salary? What's the franchise is $28 million. So if, if he signs a new deal and you could push that money around any way you want, you could make, you could basically make him, you know, look like he's getting the minimum in the salary, in the, on the salary cap. While you're giving him guaranteed money, you're saving whatever $20 million in space right there. It's all very movable. The Cowboys are the number one team in the NFL as far as available cash to be created by restructure. They can create. I think the number was $137 million.
Jeff Biggs
Even more than that.
Glenn Stretch Smith
We're on the 19th of February. Get your ass going in direction, man. Let's go.
Jeff Biggs
Do they have to wait, do they have to wait until the new year to do that stuff or can they rush or.
Landon McCool
There's not really a, I mean, it's not really, I mean they could do it the day before they sign someone, you know, like it's all it is is pulling a trigger. There's no negotiating. That has to get done.
Jeff Biggs
Right. Okay.
Aisha Morrison
I mean, you don't think that there, I mean, we know next week we'll start, it'll start picking up. Just because combine, you get all those agents, all those coaches, all those people in one place, it's it. We'll start hearing some stuff, we'll start hearing some conversation. But I mean, coach, you don't think they're on the phone, you don't think that they're, you know, trying to work some stuff yet?
Glenn Stretch Smith
Well, I think that. I'm not saying that.
Aisha Morrison
No, I'm asking, I'm asking like, are you concerned about the urge?
Glenn Stretch Smith
Surely they are. Surely they are. But what I'm saying is, is from a realistic standpoint, I, I need to know before I could like put my stamp on what I'd really want to do. Like, I don't know what, without a second or third round pick, like, what is the, what does the draft really look like before I start whipping out and spending, you know, money one way or the other. And if you're saying Fitzpatrick, what, What. What would Minka cost him? Is he that much of an upgrade over Malik Hooker?
Landon McCool
Sure, That's. I mean, those are the questions that we would be asking. Absolutely.
Jeff Biggs
Yeah.
Landon McCool
And. And I don't. The answer, like I said, I don't know even know what he would cost to be traded for. Like, that's. Those are the particulars that I like that are the really determining factor here is because you don't have a ton of resources. And when you talk about trading for a player, you're spending both sets of resources. You're. You're using a draft pick and you're using part of.
Glenn Stretch Smith
That's what you'd have to do with Fitzpatrick. Correct.
Landon McCool
Yeah, that's what I'm. Yeah, exactly.
Glenn Stretch Smith
Yeah. Yeah. So you got. I mean, I mean, you got. You'd have to do the same thing. Blankenship's not a free agent, is he?
Landon McCool
Yes, he is a free agent.
Glenn Stretch Smith
He is. Okay, so you got Lloyd Blankenship free agents. Ward looks like they could. Are they thinking about cutting him in Cleveland?
Jeff Biggs
I think that's possible, yeah.
Landon McCool
I mean, I wouldn't be shocked if this is a, you know, to a cap casualty situation. Wouldn't be shocked. Well, so we'll see, right?
Jeff Biggs
We will see. Absolutely. All right, let's talk about the draft a little bit more. And coming up, we'll get into this first wind total projected for the Cowboys. We'll do that coming up. This is the Cowboys squad show.
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Jeff Biggs
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Aisha Morrison
Yeah, I was about to say I think, I think they can ride the board or, you know, if the opportunity presents itself for them to be able to get into the second or the third round would be beneficial to them, depending on what they do with that. One of their first round picks. Well, yeah, I mean, I think the second and third round are going to be really rich and Dallas ain't got nothing. So.
Landon McCool
Yes, yes. You know, look, if anything, I think the Cowboys should try to find a way to maybe trade down. You know, I don't think trading up is, is, is a great idea, especially because the kind of defensive players that you're going for, right, like that are available. I mean, this is kind of the problem with this draft, right, is that you're trading up for a safety or a linebacker. Right. And, and positional value wise that it just isn't necessarily great. And I, I look, I mean, no one needs to sell me on Caleb Downs or on Sonny Styles or on Arvell Reese. I don't need to be sold.
Aisha Morrison
But you know, the Giants is gonna have him. Giants gonna take Giant downs.
Landon McCool
The Giants are gonna, the Giants have had all kinds of drafting of great players on their defense that have amounted.
Glenn Stretch Smith
Did you say Down Styles and who else
Landon McCool
probably Arbo Reese is probably the only other person that's like we would be talking about. So I just can't imagine like them going up and, and you know, again, even though they have two first round picks like, like, like Aisha said, they don't have currently some picks on the second day, which is really where the kind of value center is in this draft. So I, I, you know, I wouldn't waste future resources. Not waste, but I wouldn't use future resources and I sure as heck wouldn't use that second first round pick to go up. You need as many picks in, in key, key areas where you can get cheap starters as possible. So if anything, you should be trying to look at teams looking to come up to 20 from, you know, a little bit later or even in the second round potentially.
Aisha Morrison
Yeah.
Landon McCool
And see whatever you can get like in, in a hall to move back a little bit and see what falls to you at 12 and, and hope that maybe, you know, maybe down, maybe for the same reason that you shouldn't trade up for the Caleb Downs, maybe that's the same reason that he potentially falls to you at 12.
Aisha Morrison
One of the only positions that I could see them like somebody trying to come up for is like wide receiver, offensive line. Especially when you talk about tackle in this class, I mean if you need a tackle quarterback, it's at the top. It's at the top and that's it.
Landon McCool
I, I tell you, we, we, we'll discount it every single year and then we'll get to the draft and there will be a quarterback that will get taken at the bottom of the first round that all of us are going to be shocked about because teams love having that five years of control on it. So yeah, I would just go ahead and write in, in pencil that Ty Simpson's name might get called somewhere right around where the Cowboys are picking in the, in the, in the. Actually, honestly, who knows, like maybe even where the Cowboys are picking their first pick. Like, who knows? So I just, I wouldn't be shocked. Things always seem to change and when we get closer to the draft, it always seems like teams are trying to convince themselves, trying to make fetch happen with some quarterback or some tackle that we haven't been talking about. Right. And then they're like, they've convinced themselves that this is going to work and then, you know, end up pulling the trigger on, I don't know, whoever it is. And, and, and we're just sitting, going, I cannot believe they didn't take Caleb Downs or Sunny Styles or whoever it is they passed on for some video mediocre quarterback.
Aisha Morrison
They all kind of mediocre, to be honest, in this draft. But that's funny what you got, Coach,
Glenn Stretch Smith
I just think, I mean, I think every year I'm, I'm in agreeance with you guys. I mean, there's, there's going to be. The mentality, you know, for most people is it's better to be a year early than a year late so somebody will be looking. I mean, I look at the Rams, you think they're not a year early in the quarterback market? You know, I mean, that's. That absolutely could happen. And I think you could see somebody get back in that first round. I'm still saying that until we truly know kind of in that ballpark range how many first round grades are really out there, I think it's hard to really then start to plug names into where guys could go.
Jeff Biggs
Do you think, do you guys think. I. I know we talked about this a lot in our show earlier this week about can the defense really, really be fixed? I mean, it's one thing to say it, it's one thing to, to know it and all kind of own it,
Aisha Morrison
but yes, all the time, like, it's just. I understand people's doubt and I understand why people are nervous about it, but I mean, this is football. This happens all the time in football. We see coaches go to another program, whether that's offense, defense, special teams, hell, and it just clicks, you know, it clicks. You know, sometimes it's personnel, sometimes it's obviously coaching. But this is not like an undoable thing. I mean, and, and you already have some pieces on defense that are guys that you can kind of build around. So I don't, I don't think that it's undo. I don't think. And I know a lot of people are saying, like, oh, you know, you only want the, you only need the defense to be like middle of the pack. I mean, my God, you need them to just at least get turnovers. I mean, I almost cussed, but I mean, I'm just saying, like, it's. It doesn't take a whole bunch of stars to make a good defense. It doesn't. It takes a unit understanding what they're supposed to do, having some, some real deal makers in between sprinkled in through there, then making plays. But it's a unit. And so I think the biggest thing is like, yeah, you need personnel and everything, but like, it's gonna be up to these coaching, like I coach you were talking about earlier. I'M really excited to see the process, to see how they install, how different it is, you know, how the players are processing it, whatever the case may be. But it's doable. Jeff, I know that you got anxiety, and I'm sure a lot of fans have anxiety, and that's understandable because we got to see it. I get it.
Glenn Stretch Smith
What is doable look like?
Aisha Morrison
Do doable? What is. Well, what does doable look like? Because, I mean, we're asking them to play sound football. Jesus Christ.
Glenn Stretch Smith
What does that, so what does that mean? Like two more critical stops a game, one more turnover.
Aisha Morrison
Don't be last on third down.
Landon McCool
Yeah.
Glenn Stretch Smith
An offense that you're still expecting to score 30. Like, what's, what's doable? Because, I mean, you're, you're at rock bottom right now, so, hell, any, any one more critical stop in a 17 game season is better than what they had.
Aisha Morrison
Yeah, I mean, but I, I, I
Landon McCool
think, look, here's, here's what it is. The reason I think last year was so frustrating is that it's not just that the defense was obviously historically bad. It's that there was some talent on this team, you know, and, and, and it didn't, you know, you had some guys on at certain spots on this team, and, and even they weren't playing at the level that you kind of expected. So I, I think that's what kind of gives me hope is that you could use talent at, at all three levels. You definitely need talent at all three levels, but you also have some talent on all three levels. You know, there's not, it's not completely bare in this defense. It needs, it definitely needs some, you know, some, some improvement, talent wise, obviously, in the kind of, you know, or depth wise. Right. But you're not like, completely, completely starting from scratch. I think you're, you're kind of rebuilding around what was a. You have a kind of solid young foundation you can build around, and I think you're extending from there. If you were starting completely from scratch, then I think that this would be an incredibly tall task. But, you know, if you were and
Glenn Stretch Smith
if you were starting from scratch, what's the hardest thing? What? In your mind, what's the hardest thing to go get?
Landon McCool
I mean, honestly, like, the Cowboys themselves have spent half a decade trying to find defensive tackles.
Glenn Stretch Smith
They got three of them. You're already in a win situation.
Landon McCool
That's right.
Glenn Stretch Smith
That's the hardest thing to get is defensive tackles, and the Cowboys have three of them. So tonight, when you take those Tylenol PMS and go to bed. That's what you need to think about. Hell, they've already got them in line.
Landon McCool
That's right.
Aisha Morrison
You're gonna be knocked out. You're gonna be knocked out. You're in a coma. Taking those, you be taking those three of them.
Landon McCool
That's, that's a lot. But I don't, not me.
Aisha Morrison
Like I don't you be taking town opms.
Glenn Stretch Smith
No.
Aisha Morrison
You wake up next week.
Glenn Stretch Smith
I wanted. If I was, if I was sitting up ringing my hands, worried about whether the Cowboys were going to be worth a tanker's ass on defense. Yeah. I mean. Yeah. You, yeah, it'd probably be. I, I, I'd be, I'd be popping those, Andy in like their tic tacs.
Landon McCool
No, I don't take that well. Yeah, I, I think either way, I don't know that you need to medicate yourself to go to sleep. There it is within, within the realm of possibilities.
Glenn Stretch Smith
Feel better about this is everybody's worried about defensively where they're at. Man, they got three building blocks up front.
Landon McCool
Yeah.
Glenn Stretch Smith
I'm talking about they got a foundation to build on that's as good as anybody in the NFL. Now when you think about defensive line and defensive tackles moving to a three man front, I mean it, it, it's, it's all there for you. Not just don't go stink it up.
Landon McCool
And that's, and that's like kind of, it's, it's that, it's, it's trying to get angles of improvement in several different areas at once. Right. It's, it's getting a defense that's going to accentuate the talent that you've got. It's the two first round picks. It's the fact that you're going to have a focus of free agent money on defense. So it's not like any one thing should make you feel better about this defense. It's that they are attacking this multifaceted problem with a multifaceted solution. And so far they are doing that, which is hopeful. Let's see how it continues in free agency and if they do their job in free agency, we'll see how they do in the draft.
Aisha Morrison
May I ask a question? I know that we're focusing on defense and between the draft and free agency and all that fancy stuff, but are there any places that you want to maybe want to get some depth or something offensively? I mean, I know in the draft they probably gonna grab something, but I'm talking about free agency. Is there position that we need to Address.
Glenn Stretch Smith
They don't. If they choose not to sign Javante and. And are you telling me that running back may not even be the number one need for this team if that's the case?
Landon McCool
I, I mean I just, I just don't worry about it because you're going to have maybe one of the best free agent running back classes that has come out in the last 10 years. Probably. I mean there's some class is ridiculous and so yeah, Devonte is like the sixth best running back on in the market probably.
Aisha Morrison
So yeah,
Glenn Stretch Smith
coach, he's not the six best pass protector.
Landon McCool
Well, for the Cowboys to prioritize that then they can go, they should be able to go resign him. But my point being, like it's, you know, it's not a great market for Javante Williams to be trying to hold the Cowboys hostage with some contract. I have a feeling he'd be happy to sign a very reasonable extension and
Glenn Stretch Smith
I hope he does. I mean, I hope that's the case.
Landon McCool
I think what we should do come back from the break is, and talk about is I think that there are things about the offense that need to improve to get better next year. There's a team, but I don't know if it's about acquiring personnel.
Jeff Biggs
Wow, that's next level right there. That's matrix stuff right there. I love it. Right. We'll do that when we come back and Aisha will get your question in as well. This is the Cowboys squad show
Aisha Morrison
to
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Glenn Stretch Smith
There we go. That was impressive. That guy said ethos 76 times in a two minute ad.
Jeff Biggs
That was tremendous. It was a great read right there. By the way, Marcus Moser, the great Marcus Moser, co host with Landon of the daily Locked on Cowboys podcast. Even though he's not on the show tonight, he'll be back on Monday. He is kind of hanging out in the chat room.
Landon McCool
He's just waiting for me to get done so that we can do the podcast.
Aisha Morrison
He's just trying to avoid.
Landon McCool
No, yeah, he's trying to avoid having to go change diapers right now.
Aisha Morrison
I'm sure he just, he can't help himself. Look at, look, listen to coach laughing over there. Y' all just sick.
Landon McCool
He knows I'm right. Coach knows I'm right.
Aisha Morrison
Y' all just sick or something.
Jeff Biggs
Aisha, what were you gonna ask? You had a second question, huh?
Aisha Morrison
Well, I did.
Landon McCool
No, let's talk about my teas. Come on.
Jeff Biggs
What are you talking about?
Aisha Morrison
Yeah, yeah, go to Landon's teas. Maybe it'll come back to my mind.
Landon McCool
Listen, here's here do need to talk about offense because look, we, we've, I mean obviously the defense is going to eat up the majority of our time and it should. The defense is clearly where the Cowboys need to make most improvement. There is some areas that we obviously have covered as well with the pickin situations. We talked about the fact that obviously they, they need to resign either Williams or some running back. Those things are all very clear. I think one area where we haven't really discussed and I think that is it's not as, you know, maybe as sexy as free agency or the draft or whatever. It's important that we don't rest on the Cowboys don't rest on their laurels on offense and I think the area in which they need to see improvement next year is at the offensive line spot. I think that they have a vest. They have invested a lot of money in the offensive line in draft, in contracts. They've, they've went out and got a offensive coordinator who is an offensive line expert and then hired another offensive Line coach from college. They did a great job last year. I thought the things that they brought into the offense were incredible. The, especially the additions in the, in the power run game. Some of the protection stuff that coach broke down again. One of my favorites is what coach mentioned too. Recognizing that Tyler Smith is a special athlete and then using him to pull out infant protections on the edge at times was, I thought, a brilliant twist there and just a really great way to problem solve a lot of situations. So I am all for these guys. I'm not here to complain. I am here to say you have got all the pieces. You have got the coaches that you think can do this job. Now it's time to see the results. It's time for this offensive line to take the next step. They have got a lot of talent there. They got a lot of young guys. They got a room of guys that are all looking the same direction. It's time for that next step of the progression from, you know, Tyler guiding, taking next step. I thought he played better than the year before. He at least instilled some hope on me that if he can, if he could stay healthy on the field, that this could be the guy that we're looking for at left tackle. We need Tyler Smith to have a better year than he did last year. I know he was dealing with some knee stuff. We got to find a way to have him back playing as an all Pro booker. I'm excited to see a year or two of. I'd love for him to kind of step up, to be more of a leader in that room because I think that his attitude and mindset is exactly what this offensive line room needs. I think Bibi is a guy that I specifically think needs to step up. I think we've had high hopes for him. I think he didn't necessarily have a fantastic year. I understand he was injured at certain points last year, but. But I would love for him to kind of take the step into being the center that we had hoped that he would grow into. I think year, year three or whatever he's into is a good time to start expecting that. And then Terrence Steele is a guy that I feel like, you know, there's been a lot of talk about what to do with his contract this year. I thought that Terrance Steele played better football than he did in 2024. And I'm actually excited to kind of continue to see him play in this system that I think fits his personality a lot, his play style a lot better than a lot of the other previous Coaching staff. So this is a group that obviously has a lot of money and a lot of picks invested in it. A lot of coaching staff, a lot of eyes on needs to take the steps necessary to not only get better themselves, but that is where the offense is going to grow and evolve. If they can get a better offensive line, if they become a better run blocking unit, a better pass protecting unit that this offense, which was already, you know, top five, you know, top three, depending on what metric you're looking at, it could be the number one offense in all of football. If you can find a way for that offensive line to take the next step, Boom.
Jeff Biggs
Landon. That was like a pancake block.
Landon McCool
I love it, love it.
Jeff Biggs
Fired up. I love that.
Aisha Morrison
How do you feel about the offensive line coach?
Glenn Stretch Smith
I mean, I thought, I think you need to see some guys continue too. And you guys mentioned them. I mean continue to take that step also. You know, I hope that, and I know you guys have heard me say this because I do think this young man is immensely talented, is span forward. I'd like, I'd like to see him, I'd like to see them come out in some more 12 personnel sets and use him if they can stay relatively healthy up front so that they can turn into more of a physical running team. Because I think what it's going to do is it's going to help Dax, it's going to help the play action game, it's going to help the vertical game. But I think he has, he's so physical and he's so athletic. He's kind of the guy that I, that I hope takes that, that next step of understanding. He played enough this last year, you know, and, and I, I really believe that with a little confidence and you know, and a little more experience. Well, he, he, he can be for real now. And I mean, I mean really, I mean really good. Like a dominant style tight end, a Pro bowl tight end.
Aisha Morrison
I agree. I mean the body type that he has, obviously he is such a willing blocker. That's what we saw from him in Minnesota when he was in college. I mean he busted his ass. He might have been your best special teams player, specialist, just running down there on kicks. He earned that number, that tight end two spot. And quite honestly, I mean me and Landon were at camp before he got injured. It was his, I mean he was far more dominant than a schoolmaker had been. And again, there's value in him being able to block in line to do things in the slide. And we got to see him later in the season start doing some receiving things over the middle. His size is going to be a problem with some of those safeties, those small safeties trying to come down and tackle. I'm really excited for him to take that step as well. Which brings me to my next point. Is Dallas in business for a tight end in this draft later?
Landon McCool
Well, that's funny that you mentioned it,
Aisha Morrison
because the spoon maker thing is just.
Landon McCool
That's what I was gonna say. Scooney is basically gone at this point.
Aisha Morrison
And then what the hell's going on with Lipke?
Landon McCool
Well, yeah, I think Lipke is just Lipke. I mean, he's, you know, I think they're gonna. He's going to be that role. I don't know that there's too much evolution there. I think that's what a fullback, tight end, glue guy kind of is, right? Special teamer. I think the growth there is, like you said, is the fact that we have not even mentioned Schoonmaker obviously means that we all think that Brevin Spanford is taking that job and that, that, that's. That and the fact that we kind of, everyone in the community just kind of has, like, universally resolved to that. It really speaks to exactly what he has done in his time here. So the question with. With BSF is, is the receiving aspect of it? Is he fluid enough, smooth enough as a receiver? Receiving, catching the ball? Marcus, if you talk bad about Hunter Lifty one more time, buddy, like, I'm gonna put you in timeout, okay?
Aisha Morrison
There's so much tension. I know, I know, I know.
Landon McCool
It's. No, but I, I, It's. I think, you know, I. Look, I'm. And I'm the biggest Lipke fan ever, too. I do think that his role is his role. Like, that's, that's what he's doing now is what he does. He's gonna. He'll surprise you every. Every, like, fifth game by catching a ball on fourth and two because you didn't expect the fullback would get it. He'll. He'll take a carry at the goal line. He could be an emergency running back. He can line up as a tight end if you need to. He can play special teams, but he's not like the guy that he's not Kyle Jus. Check. Right? Like, he's not necessarily that guy. So I, I think the key development is going to be having Brevin span forward. If he can find a way to take a step as a receiver, find some confidence in his hands. I, I think that's a Real weapon because then you can deploy him on the field and it's not tipping off. Whether we're running or passing. He's a big body guy that can be a reliable target. Yeah, it was, it was.
Tyler Rowland
It's.
Landon McCool
It's a, it's a thing that you're looking forward to.
Glenn Stretch Smith
I mean, I get, I get Hunter Lipke, but, like, I'm to the point now where I've seen enough of him. Like, I know what he can do and, you know, in a pinch. Okay. But I still believe that if you're stuck, if you're taking, if you're taking snaps away from Span Ford, then to me, that's a little bit of a problem because I do think that kid has got. I'm telling you, just mark this down. If he can stay healthy, he, he, he is the real deal.
Landon McCool
Yeah, absolutely.
Jeff Biggs
Love that. All right, we'll leave it there for this show. We'll tease and we'll let. We'll get into the win totals and all that stuff next week. But before we go, Aisha, what do you have coming up? Anything else this week?
Aisha Morrison
No.
Landon McCool
Who knows at this point? So many shows.
Aisha Morrison
Actually, no. Actually, this is my last one. And.
Landon McCool
Oh, calling a weekend. Nice.
Jeff Biggs
Okay, Landon, what about you and Marcus? You're gonna tape right after this?
Landon McCool
Yeah, I'm gonna go off the show and then go yell at Marcus about Lipke. I'm gonna hear in a second. No, yeah, we're doing. We got shows about the, the free agents that are available at the positions the Cowboys need on defense. Just kind of examining the by tier and so we're definitely going to be doing that. And then next week, week we'll be talking about some more draft picks. We'll have two sets of trios of guys to go over and I'm always excited to kind of keep diving into the draft. There's lots and lots of interesting guys this year.
Jeff Biggs
All right. Love it, coach. Thank you as always. Have a great weekend. We'll talk to you again on Monday night. Aisha, as you. As you as well. And Marcus will be back with us. Until then, check out tomorrow the daily lockdown Cowboys podcast with Landon McCool and Marcus Mosher. Thank you. For those that are listening later, we appreciate you. And once again, this has been the Cowboys squad show.
Aisha Morrison
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Publish Date: February 20, 2026
Host: Landon McCool, Marcus Mosher (chat), Aisha Morrison, Glenn “Stretch” Smith, Jeff Biggs
Main Theme: First impressions and expectations for new Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker; analysis of defensive strategy and roster needs for 2026.
This week’s “Cowboys Squad Show” dives into the Cowboys’ introduction of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. The crew discusses Parker’s vision, his press conference takeaways, and what his arrival could mean for Dallas’ struggling defense. Broader conversations cover free agency priorities, draft strategy, and both defensive/offensive positional needs as the Cowboys look toward the 2026 season.
“They asked him about continuity…he rightly said, this is a team that’s had four defensive coordinators the last four years. What continuity is there?”
“You’re not a modern NFL defense if the nickel role isn’t important. It’s a starting position now.”
“You have got all the pieces…now it’s time to see the results. It’s time for this offensive line to take the next step.”
“He can be for real now...a dominant style tight end, a Pro Bowl tight end.”
| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------|--------------| | Parker Press Conference Impressions | 03:23–05:33 | | Scheme Fit & 3-4 Philosophy | 05:33–07:48 | | Staff Hiring and Development Focus | 10:48–11:58 | | Role of Nickel Corner | 12:41–14:09 | | Defensive Priorities (“Affecting the QB,” tackling) | 14:29–17:14 | | Free Agency, Trades, Cap Questions | 24:10–34:47 | | Draft Strategy (trading up/down) | 40:06–42:27 | | Can the Defense Be Fixed? | 44:43–50:44 | | Offensive Line Improvement Needs | 55:06–58:54 | | Brevin Span-Ford & TE Discussion | 59:03–63:48 |
For more, check out daily episodes from Landon McCool and Marcus Mosher on the Locked On Cowboys podcast.