← Locked On Cowboys - Daily Podcast On The Dallas Cowboys
Locked On Cowboys - Daily Podcast On The Dallas Cowboys
COWBOYS SQUAD SHOW: The Cowboys search continues for a key DC.
01:00:45
COWBOYS SQUAD SHOW: The Cowboys continue their search for a new DC, with another big name RB rumor.
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Host
Foreign.
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Ad Announcer
Podcast Network your team every day.
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Tyler Rowland
This is Tyler Rowland from the Locked on Titans podcast. This message is a paid partnership with Apple Card. I love how simple it is to pay using Apple Card with Apple Pay. It's built right into my iPhone so it's always ready to go. I was on vacation recently. I didn't even have to bring my wallet to the beach but plus I earn up to 3% daily cash back on every purchase when I use my Apple card with Apple Pay. Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app on your iPhone Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City branch terms and.
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Host
More at apple card.com new year same extra value meals at McDonald's.
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So now get two snack wraps plus fries and a medium soft drink for.
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Just $8 for a limited time only.
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Prices and participation may vary.
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Prices may be in Hawaii, Alaska and California.
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Landon McCool
And for delivery.
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Host
I am Jeff Biggs, host of the Cowboys Squad show. Forget all the talk about defensive coordinators. Tight end coaches are in demand. I say it's time to bring back Stretch Glenn.
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Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Stretch Smith. I'm right here, Jerry. I buy. Here's my phone right here brother. Give me a holler.
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Landon McCool
I'm Landon McCool and I'm officially removing myself. Consider it from consideration of any coaching positions or defensive quarters coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys.
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Locked On Podcast Network Announcer
How about them Cowboys? It's the Cowboys 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 starting now.
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Host
All right, well, there might not be three Thursday Night Football for a little while, but thankfully there is a Thursday night squad show for a long time. All the way through the end of the season. We're going to keep it going. So welcome Gret. Great to have you with us. That is the co host of the daily Cowboys Lock on podcast, Landon McCool, former Cowboys coach Glenn Stretch Smith. And joining us in a little bit will be Aisha Morrison. Gotta let you know that crossover Thursday is presented by Prize Picks. Download the Prize Picks app today and use code locked on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Oh, and there she is. Look at that. Right on cue.
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Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Hey.
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Landon McCool
Playing the two I apparently today. I like it. How's it going?
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Host
All right. We are all right.
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Landon McCool
You guys know he said I don't get a chance to see each other enough so let me behave.
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Host
Well, we're gonna change that because we're going to be doing this for the, like I said, all off season long and we're pumped up about it. Lots to talk about once again tonight, we've got the very latest with the Cowboys and the defensive coordinator search. There's a big new running back rumor potentially. I don't know about that. We'll see. And things got just a little bit more interesting now in the NFC East. We'll dive into all of that. But I want to get started with you, Landon McCool with the D.C. search. Seems like very quietly, I mean, the Cowboys are really talking to a lot of people. I mean, they're not, they're not leaving any stone unturned. To use that old cliche. Where do things from your perspective stand right now? And is there one or two that, that you like, that you'd like to see them maybe end up hiring?
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Landon McCool
Yeah, I mean, first of all, let's just say that this is a really great pool of candidates, right, that's just available. Like, that's, that's the thing that kind of really stands out to me is that it feels like, you know, especially in comparison to the head coaching candidates that we saw last year that were just available in the pool. Compared to some of the offensive coordinator candidates that are currently available, though, there are some good ones of those. Just the number of qualified, you know, solid defensive coordinator candidates is, is. Is very high. And I think that's why you're seeing the Cowboys take a wide net approach, right? They, you know, I think Stephen said today that they were going to interview maybe even up to a dozen different people and then kind of start to narrow it down from there. So I think this is the right way to handle this. I think you need to go, I mean, beyond the fact that you should interview a bunch of people and get a bunch of opinions and find out, you know, what, what kind of guy you're looking for. I think it's also really important just to get conversations with some of these young defensive minds and, and pick their brains a little bit about not only like, you know, what's going on with your team, but like, what they, how they did things, where they came from. And some of these guys may not be, may not end up being defensive coordinators. They may end up being position coaches for you. So, yes, I, I definitely think this is an important thing to kind of go through this process and talk to a whole bunch of folks just to get a lot of information and then, you know, start to n. Narrow it down. I think once coaches start getting hired, harbaugh was like the first of those. Right, right. I think once head coaches start getting hired, you're going to see the process start to accelerate a little bit because then that's when the kind of competition for the coordinator starts to kick up a little bit more. But as of right now, I really liked the tenor and approach that they've had taken so far.
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Aisha Morrison
Same. Oh, same.
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Host
So who, who. I mean, you kind of go down the list and apparently there were a couple more scheduled for today, another one for tomorrow. Eagles DB's coach and past game coordinator Christian Parker, Giants interim DC Charlie Bullen. And then tomorrow, Packers DL coach and run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington. I know you guys. Landon, you and Marcus talked about Jonathan Gannon a little bit. We've talked about Brian Flores. So I mean it, like you just said, it's a, it's a wide net. They're looking at a lot of people. You know, I'm curious. I, I know there's a history with Shotty and Brian and Jim Leonard, right? That's correct. They know each other. So there's that one dynamic. But then you look at somebody like, like Gannon, who's within the division but has kind of a prickly personality, would be maybe kind of a good cop, bad cop. Flores would be great. But it sounded, I don't know, it sounded like the Raiders wanted to, with the whole Brady connection there, wanted to bring him there or he would go back to Minnesota throwing different things out. But as I said, is there anybody that you, you're kind of excited about or that you might like to see in another interview?
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Landon McCool
Me or Isa everybody?
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Aisha Morrison
Yeah.
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Landon McCool
I like, but I like specifically, I think he's gonna, he could be a great candidate. I think Christian Parker from the Eagles be a slam.
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Aisha Morrison
Who you say? Landon.
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Landon McCool
Christian Parker.
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Aisha Morrison
Oh, yeah, the DB coach from Philly.
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Landon McCool
From Philly, Yeah. I, I think he would be a good look at the guy just because of his experience that we've seen, you know, working in, in Philly and in Denver as well before that. So, yeah, I like a couple of these guys, to be honest.
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Aisha Morrison
Yeah, I mean, one of the gentlemen that I, I noticed earlier. The. Who he was the interim coach. Charlie, is it Bullen is how you say his last name was the interim coach with, with the Giants for a little bit. And you saw their numbers improve while he was there. I, I just like the fact that to, to Landon's point is that Dallas is. What, what, what. How do I say? Like they're, they're going the, you know, Fresher, Fresher mind. Just kind of just branching out. Because we've seen that they typically hire former coaches, former head coaches, things like that. I like the fact that they are trying to kind of match Shoddy's energy with whoever the D coordinator is. And also, too, I think it's relevant to say that in this generation of player that. I think that that is something that has helped in other teams around the league as well.
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Landon McCool
Yeah, for sure.
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Host
Coach, what do you think?
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Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Yeah, I mean, I'll let. I mean, all that's, you know, all that sounds. I mean, great. But at the end of the day, I need somebody who's called a defense. I need somebody who understands how to coordinate a defense. I need somebody who knows how to communicate with the scouting department and with the guys in the back of the building. What he wants. I mean, I. If I had, you know, if I had my. Put my finger on somebody, I mean, I'd go after Terrell Austin right now in Pittsburgh. I, I think he's. He understands multiple fronts. He understands coming from the railroad system now to a 34 system. He understands how to use players. I, I want somebody that has. That has that experience. I need. I need somebody that understands exactly what they want and not so much what they want, but can their system fit with what the personnel may be. Everybody knows that the back end of this defense is going to have to be completely reconstructed. So if it came in to the next set of curriculum that I would need, it would be, hey, I want a guy that's. I want a guy that's coached in the secondary. And Terrell Austin fits that too. So he's called the defense. He's been in both multiple schemes, understands how to coordinate the back end. I mean, I'm not here championing one guy or another because I'm not an agent, but I, I think that that those type of characteristics and those type of. That type of experience is. Is what I would mostly look for.
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Aisha Morrison
Well, we can tell that Dallas is obviously looking at coaches trying to. They. They voiced, even at the, you know, the press conference that it's important for them to fix the secondary. So a lot of the gentlemen that are getting these opportunities are gentlemen who specialize to your point coach in the secondary because it's a need for sure.
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Landon McCool
And like we said, like, a lot of these guys could end up being, you know, coordinators or. I'm sorry, not coordinators, position coaches. So. And, and like, like we've mentioned, I mean, when you've interviewed, I think six guys and five of them are defensive back or secondary coaches. You start to really kind of paint a picture on exactly what they're looking for. So, yeah, I think it's, it's not so much that I think folks are excited that they are looking at coaches, younger coaches. I think that is good. But I think it's just that they are mixing it up. Right. Like, I don't have a problem if they go out and get Terrell Austin or Jonathan Gannon who really kind of fits, like what the, the, you know, especially Jerry potentially would want, you know, former head coach, that sort of thing. I, I don't think that's a problem. I think the important thing was to not only interview former head coaches for the position or not only interview older candidates. So the fact that they're mixing it up and getting a bunch of different opinions, I think is that's an important thing. It's a good thing.
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Aisha Morrison
That's well stated. Yeah.
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Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
And here, here's the other thing. I mean, you've got, you've got a quarterback, it's got about a two year window.
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Landon McCool
Yeah.
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Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
You've got a secondary that's got to be fixed. And so it, you know, my, my whole thing would be, hey, I need the scouting department, I don't need them involved in the, in the, in the hiring process. Go make sure you don't miss on these two picks. Spend all your time in there making sure that 12 and 20 are correct. And then, you know, allow Schottenheimer to have his say, allow Stephen and Jerry to have their say. And I, I do think that it doesn't matter to me the age. And I'm not sure that it matters to them the age. I mean, I, I, I, I, I really don't care if it's a, if it's a young whiz kid or if it's a guy, it's old as Methuselah. Can you call a defense and can you coach?
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Host
Yeah, that's the, the, the fascinating part to me, in addition to all that, is that really it probably comes down to who blows them away in the interview process and wish we could be there for that. I wish we could, we could sit in there and take a listen to that and talk about all that. But I know, coach, you've been through that.
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Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
But that's the other, you know, to me that's the other characteristic. I get it. That they want somebody that's got, you know, imaginative and all that. Hey, I want a guy that can coach what he wants. I want a guy that understands how to coach the process of what you want. To me, you saw that this year with the defensive line and you saw it with the offensive line especially. I thought the offensive line absolutely took to coaching. But you have to know how to, you have to know how to coach it. I mean, sitting and clicking and playing on the computer, hey, I need somebody who understands how to get guys in position to make plays and how to coach that out of them.
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Aisha Morrison
Yeah, I think. Oh, go. Well, I was going to say, I think Christian Parker and a little bit that I've gotten to see from him, interviews, articles. This is a guy that's very articulate. He's also incredibly detailed when he's talking you through the technique and what he's trying to get these kids to work. And I think we've seen that in Philly's. You know, Philly did something very risky, you know, letting all those veteran players go. And they, they leaned on their draft. They had to pay guys. They leaned on their draft and they drafted two corners in the early rounds and they've paid off big for them. And so I, I do think that when you talk about him, not only just with Philly, I mean his reputation is, is that he is known to be a teacher. And that is something that in a great communicator like coach was talking about. That's why I, out of all the guys right now, outside of, you know, the gentleman from Denver, I am really looking at what, what he has to offer and Zach Orr as well. I know, I know a lot of people not high on Zach or for a lot of reasons, but this, that's also a gentleman that I've heard through numerous facets is a teacher of the game.
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Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Yeah.
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Landon McCool
And I think that that's, you know, that's really important is that, and this kind of goes back to the conversation that coach and I had the last time I was on the squad show. Right. Is that they're not inventing new defenses, but it's how it gets taught and how it gets communicated to these players and the, the ingestion of those, of that information and understanding the rules inside of the structure of the defense and, and how that gets communicated to these players and, and the teaching it to the best way that they absorb it and they, it becomes second nature. That's the, the, the kind of edges that, that, that these coaches get nowadays. It's not an X's and O's edges. It's about how do you communicate what you're trying to do to these players in such a way that they ingest it and they're not thinking so much when they're on the field.
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Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
And here's the problem is college football used to be the proving ground for the NFL. I'm not sure that's the case anymore. And I say that because I laugh @ quarterback TJ Finley going to Incarnate Word. He's been to seven schools, seven different schools now. Have they been developed? Have they worked through the developmental process? Who is the guy that's developing them? Or they just here, there, there and here and now, now you're going to have to really, you're getting a product that I don't think is as good as what used to come out because of the way that, that, that guys are working the system right now. So I think you got to look a little farther down the hood than just saying, hey, he, he played at X or he played at Y. Hey, was he coached by that guy? Multiple springs, you know, so on and so forth. And, and I, I, I, I really think it's hurt the developmental process for the.
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Landon McCool
League. Well, and just to add this point real quick, I think the reason that you see Indiana as big favorites to win the national championship and go undefeated is because Signetti has got a program in which he develops. Right like, and that, that he has. You know, they did a lot of things in the portal. They did some things. But, but what Kurt Signetti has done in that program has developed these players and it's given that team such an advantage to over all these, these groups that are just, you know, constantly kind of shuffling players in and out of the portal. Not that that hasn't worked, but it's, there is another level that can be reached when you still are able to hold on to these guys and develop them a little bit.
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Aisha Morrison
Longer. I mean, but even so, like we just talked about him today on a show that I was on earlier. D' Angelo Pons, you know, the, the cornerback for Indiana. It's, I hear you coach on, you know, the transfer portal and how it, it's, it's harmful to some players development and things like that in the product. But then you look at a guy like this who transfers from James Madison and thrives here. You know, he got the coaching, he transferred and then got the coaching that he needs. So it's kind of like that he needed to thrive. So it's kind of like a double edged sword to me when it comes to the transfer portal. Some guys are really trying to get somewhere where they can grow and they get there and they Grow. And then some guys are, you know, I don't like. I don't like this. I don't like.
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Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
This. That's the same. Same guy. James.
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Landon McCool
Madison. That's.
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Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Right. He's now at Indiana. Right. She's been with the same group of.
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Landon McCool
Coaches. Yeah. I mean, I think the one thing I would add, too, is that I do feel like that coach is right, that it's. It can still be tough with the. In the age of the portal. This is part of what they're still trying to figure out is a development plan for a player, and the player kind of has to take the onus of that onto himself when he's making his decisions at the end of every year, whether he wants to enter the portal or not. I will say that I do wonder if, in the long term, we don't see some advantages to the portal play in terms of players being more ready to come into the NFL and learn a new system, because they've already done that potentially multiple times through the portal system going into. Going into college. So I want, you know, there's pros and cons here, and it's hard to measure this, and it's. Unfortunately, it's also constantly changing, you know, still. So we're still trying to get data points on exactly how the NIL is affecting, you know, development of NFL.
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Host
Prospects. All right, well, we will sit and wait and can't wait, can't wait to see who they hire. It's going to be a big hire and a critical hire, so we will continue to keep tabs on all of that. When we come back, though, there's actually more coaching news that has nothing to do with the defensive coordinator position. Couple of notes that I want to run by you guys. We'll do that when we return. This is the Cowboys squad.
- [19:08]
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Host
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Landon McCool
Proud. How do you feel about Whitten, coach? Do you think he's going to be a good.
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Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Coach? I mean, I'm telling you now, this is a hell of a hire for ou. He is a great football mind, I promise you. You talk about a guy that understands the ins and outs of playing that position. The ins and outs of not only how to run routes, how to set routes up, how to set guys up. I mean he is a very, very, and I'm, I'm going to say it again, very smart football guy. I love it that he went to Liberty, Argyle, coached his sons, you know, kind of went through the process of, of of understanding how to be a head guy overseeing it, albeit at the taps level. I this is a guy that's going to be, I believe on the absolute autobahn to a big time college football coaching job. And then I think he'll have opportunities coaching the NFL if that's what he.
- [25:41]
Landon McCool
Wants. Yes, I, I think, I think he's a guy that, you know, I agree with coach too. I really respect that he took the time to go coach at the high school level. He's taking, you know, this is obviously a great job with ou, but he's taking a tight end job with, at the college level. Like he's taking the time to kind of, you know, build his, his coaching career up a little bit. You know, I. With the inevitable run in with someday in which I'm sure, you know, his name is going to be floated as potential Dallas Cowboys head coach before Jerry passes on. But yeah, I, I do think this is a great hire for a guy who clearly knows the ins and outs of how to play the position as well as.
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Aisha Morrison
Anybody. Good for.
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Host
Him. Yeah, there you go. And got to say, congrats to current Cowboys coach Linda Wells and D line coach Aaron White Cotton. They are both going to be coaching in the East West Shrine Game later this month. That's good. Good for.
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Landon McCool
Them. Good for the Cowboys too. I mean, the opportunity for those guys to get the real good look at some of these players and the East West Shrine Game has really, really come up these last few years. You know, it's almost on par with the senior boil, if not already on par. So, yeah, really, really excited to see if the Cowboys can get some inside information on.
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Aisha Morrison
That. Oh yeah, I totally agree. And Coach Wells is, I mean, he's even taking the time to teach me in passing and things like that. I mean, he's, he's been a constant. You know, he's one of the guys that has surv different culture regimes and things like that. So it kind of tells you what people think about him in the league also too, has some experience in offensive line as well. So I'm, I'm excited and I'm, I'm excited for him. I definitely congratulated him earlier today, so good for him. And Coach White Cotton rather, you.
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Landon McCool
Know. Yeah, absolutely. Both, of.
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Host
Course. Well, as if the NFC east wasn't spicy enough, it's going to be soon. Joined by longtime Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who is set to become the new head coach of the Giants, getting a five year deal worth a hundred million according to reports that would make him the highest paid coach in NFL history. I know it's early and we're just getting through the season, but what are your initial thoughts of Harbaugh joining the.
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Landon McCool
Giants? Coach, you want to Start.
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Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Here. Yeah, I mean, good for, good for the Giants. I think he's, you know, I think obviously he's, he's a, he's a heck of a football coach. Now again, this is a guy that cut his teeth kind of under Ray Rhodes. I have a lot of respect for Ray Rhodes. I think Ray Rhodes is one of the, one of the sharpest, smartest guys I've ever been around from a football standpoint. And so, you know, I think what you've seen with Harbaugh, you know, is even though he was a special teams guy, he went to the right organization in Baltimore where, you know, you had Ozzie Newsome and Eric Dasta and somebody that was there to really shape that personnel for him, put together a really good football team around what he was doing. And then he hired guys that he trusted, whether that was, you know, Ryan back in the day. Then he went to Martindale. I mean, now, you know, he's got, Monken is his offensive guy. He's had Roman in there. So he, he understands the game. He's from obviously a football family. But I think, I think this is a home run hire for the Giants in that organization, especially where they're at right now with the young quarterback, young running back, some, some young defensive guys up front that, that can make a real difference. I, I think he's, he's gonna be something that the Cowboys are gonna have to reckon with for sure.
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Landon McCool
E.C. you want to.
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Aisha Morrison
Go? I mean, I hate to say it, but I like competition in the, in the division. I like, I like the division being competitive. I, I want a fire to be lit to the Cowboys ass. And when it, when it comes to the division, I want them to keep competing. So if this makes the Giants better. Oh, well, I mean, I, I don't like them. They're, they're the least dusty, you know, like I, the commanders and in Philly, you know, but, but the Giants are kind of like my least hated team in the division, so let them have their little moment of happiness. But I, I, all in all, I'm, you know, excited for there to be real competition in the division and for there to not be weeks that you can just take off. I don't think that it's healthy for your.
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Landon McCool
Culture. Anyway, I, I think it was a very safe.
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Aisha Morrison
Pick. You know, it's definitely a slave.
- [30:24]
Landon McCool
Hire. Yeah. Like, and look, I, I, I could respect that, but at the same time, like, you know, my issue with CEO, coaches and Schottenheimer may have to deal with this eventually too, is That I think you've got to constantly be keeping up with the, the offensive and defensive coordinator race. Right. And, and, and I will say that, that, that Harbaugh has had a, a really good run of bringing in a lot of quality coordinators. You know, I do wonder. I do. I, I have thoughts about how, well, how successful he will continue to be at, at that rate without Lamar Jackson, without the infrastructure that Baltimore provided around him. And, and, you know, I think I heard somebody say today that, like, you know, Jim Harbaugh got the, you know, came out of the, the coaching carousel with the most prestigious job in the coaching carousel. And I was like, no, the most prestigious job probably in the coaching carousel is the job that he just got let go of. So I, I mean, look, there's, there's a reason that he's available and I think, you know, a lot of what happened this year is kind of an example of that. But I think to coach's point, this is a guy that's been an extremely solid football coach for a long time in the NFL, knows a lot of folks. He's got a deep Rolodex of folks that probably would like to work for him. So it, I, I think it could be hit or miss, but I think it's definitely, you know, a very attempt, very strong attempt to raise the floor over there in New York, if not, you know, necessarily swinging for the.
- [31:59]
Host
Fences. All right. I saw a little nugget. I had not, I don't know, I'm sure I probably had heard about it in the past, but I didn't remember it. And that is that unless I'm wrong, unless I read it wrong, that no coach in NFL history has won a Super bowl as the head coach with two different teams. Whatever. That's.
- [32:20]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Right. Yeah. That's a correct stat. I, I did, I did see that as well, so. Well, I mean, those records are made. Records are made to be broke.
- [32:30]
Landon McCool
So. Yes, well, but I, I think if anything, what, what it should be is, like, not so much that, that you. I think the indictment is on the argument that you need to hire a Super bowl winning coach to win the Super Bowl. I think if anything, hey, clearly you don't because it's never happened before. So. Yeah, yeah, I, I agree that you shouldn't disqualify somebody because they won the super bowl, but at the same time, like, you know, it's also equally ridiculous to disqualify somebody because they didn't win a Super.
- [33:00]
Host
Bowl. All right, tell you what, when we come back, we have a new rumor. Not, not a defensive coordinator rumor, but a new running back rumor that I want to run you guys. We talked about George Pickens earlier in the week. We're waiting on that. But we've been talking, waiting to see what's going to happen with Javante Williams. And so I'm going to throw something by you when we return. This is the Cowboys squad.
- [33:25]
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Host
LOCKEDONNF. All right, now we can talk about Home Chef and what they're doing. Because as the new year gets going, a lot of people are trying to simplify their routines. And dinner is a big one. Between busy work days, cold winter nights and packed schedules, having an easy, reliable dinner plan makes a huge difference. That's where Home Chef comes in. Home Chef takes the stress out of cooking by delivering fresh pre portioned ingredients right to your door with easy to follow recipes. And they actually taste great. They're rated number one by the users of other meal kits for quality, convenience, value, taste and recipe ease. And it's really easy to see why. Meals they come ready to fit your schedule. 30 minute recipes, oven ready trays or quick lunches. Over 30 weekly options including family sized meals and different dietary choices. And here's the cool thing. The recipes are simple, but they feel elevated. I mean even restaurant quality. With dishes co created by chefs like Gordon Ramsay, everything arrives pre portioned. There's less prep, less mess, and no wasted foods to save Time and money. Home Chef customers save an average of $86 a month on groceries. That's pretty good. I mean, that you could. That's. You can still use that. So for a limited time, Home Chef is offering our listeners 50% off your first box, free shipping and free dessert for life. Just go to homechef.com lockedon that's homechef.com locked on,/locked on for 50% off your first box, free shipping and free dessert for life. Must be an active subscriber to receive the free dessert. All right, making me hungry there. So, you know, if the Cowboys are unable to resign Javante Williams, I mean, I, I don't know why. I, I think he would want to. He's a good fit here. I would hope he would want to come back. Sounds like the Cowboys want him back. But with that said, if he doesn't come back, there is a new running back rumor that Jags running back Travis ATN would, would be available because he's going to be a free agent. What do you think of that? Would, Would the Cowboys hit the ATM for atn? Where do you think things stand with Williams at this point? The fact that nothing's happened, we haven't heard much. What does that mean to you, if.
- [37:15]
Landon McCool
Anything? I, to me, I mean, I feel like these guys are probably valued fairly similarly, you know, like, as far as like what their market is going to demand. I would imagine ATN is a 7 million dollar a year guy. And I mean, I think that, you know, you're looking at probably 8 or 9 million for, for Javante. So I mean, I think it probably is worth it to just pay, you know, a little bit extra to have the guy that, you know, kind of knows your system. And especially since the ways in which Devonte is reliable are, you know, in past protection, in the kind of other nuanced aspects of the game. I just think that that makes it easy to pair him with a more explosive back or, you know, slowly work blue into the lineup or go draft another more dynamic back. I just think having that kind of, you know, nice floor to your running back room and again, 9 million, 8 million, that's not a ton of money if you can do that. I think that makes a ton of sense. Etienne is, Etienne's a fine player. I don't have a problem with them necessarily, but I just don't feel like the Cowboys necessarily need to settle there. And he's a different type of back than what you have from Javante Williams. More of a speed guy. Not as you know, maybe he's physically imposing, doesn't break tackles as well. So. Yeah, that. I, I kind of would prefer Javonte, but it seems not a terrible pack. I can't hear you.
- [38:53]
Aisha Morrison
Isha. I just. Sorry. I feel like you just signed Javante. I don't think that you. I just feel like Dallas needs to set a foundation and, you know, obviously you're trying to. You're trying to keep the offense where it is at the very least and then move into, you know, the defense kind of coming along. I don't want them to be taking away from the unit that they have put together already. They have so much else to do. So. So. But in regard to the, to the runners now, I will say. I want to say Lyndon. Can you remember maybe it was a couple years ago, Was it last year, year before that? There was some smoke about etn. I think that there. I think I did hear some genuine interest from the Cowboys a couple years ago, but obviously. But Javante, as you said, has come into this building and kind of really manned that spot. So I don't, I don't see. I. When you look at the Javante numbers, I think that's 7 million. 8ish. 9. I don't know the real back end, if that is the thing. So, yeah, I'm. I'm kind of in Landon's belt where I'm just like, for what? This dude already knows the offense. This guy already knows the office. There's no reason. It's. It's not like it's an upgrade, skill wise to.
- [40:03]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Me. Yeah. I think that when you look at Javante, again, it's about the protection.
- [40:09]
Aisha Morrison
Side.
- [40:10]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Yeah. To me, if you're gonna, if, if you're going to pair him with blue, then you. You already kind of have your home run back. You've already kind of got the guy that can, that can, you know, that can take it. 70 for you. The thing that I don't think Travis Etienne has is the same thud. I don't see the same thump with him when he goes to, you know, thud up a linebacker or a big safety. That's. That's blitzing. So with what you have right now and what he's done and how he's been in this offense, like Aisha was saying, he obviously understands the offense. Very smart football player. I mean, I guarantee you look at him throughout the year, I don't remember him ever making a mental error where he just turned loose somebody from a protection standpoint. So, I mean, there's value in that And I've already talked to you about where the quarterback is. I mean you got to look at the whole picture before you start thinking about okay are we going to save a little money here or a little money there. You got to look at the whole picture and where the entire football team.
- [41:28]
Host
Is. Yeah. And I would think they would get that right. I mean I think the Cowboys appreciate him. I think they've made that clear. And to your point, I think the only thing we all agreed on and talked about was that by the end of the season he was, he was, he was not the same guy. And so they need, they can't, they can't continue. They have to, they have to if it's Jaden Blue or if they're going to bring somebody else like you said land but they have to find a way to give him a little bit of rest and keep him fresh over the course of the season. But I thought he was great and I like I said I would think he would want to come back too. It should be a win win.
- [42:05]
Aisha Morrison
Honestly too now that you mentioned it, that might be why we haven't. I'm gonna ask around. Maybe I'll have something the next show. But like that might be why we haven't heard anything about contract talks because I know that shoulder was real toe up. Why it was, it was. And oh yeah. And he was playing through it. I mean to coach his point, it's just how he sacrifices his body. I mean he just throws his body out there and pass protection and I remember when he got injured so maybe that's why there hasn't been any talks because maybe he's, he's getting, maybe.
- [42:36]
Landon McCool
They'Re waiting for the surgery to be done.
- [42:38]
Aisha Morrison
Before. Yeah, maybe he's getting the cleanup. You know here soon we will hear like oh this person got a clean up. So I'll keep an eye on that and see if I'm, I'll be.
- [42:46]
Landon McCool
Nosy.
- [42:47]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Nice.
- [42:48]
Host
Thanks. One of the point I don't mean this in a disrespectful way at all but you know we keep you read things and it makes it sound like there's going to be this, you know, 20 teams trying to bang down the door to get to him and again not a dis to him. He was awesome. He was one of my favorite players last year but I just still think he's the Cowboys to lose. I mean it's seems like a good fit and a win win like I said and that like you said Aisha, so many other things to deal with. Let's keep the offense the way that it is, build on it, finish unfinished business next season and keep them around. Hopefully they can work out a.
- [43:24]
Landon McCool
Deal. I'd be pretty surprised if he went someplace else, honestly. I. I think he. I think he likes being here, it seems like. I think the Cowboys like him. I think they'll work it out.
- [43:34]
Aisha Morrison
But. Yeah, you never know. You. So you think that. So you're not one of those people that thinks that Dallas can't figure out Pickens. Okay. Bless you. Because I.
- [43:44]
Landon McCool
Know. I know that that's not the.
- [43:45]
Aisha Morrison
Case. If Dallas don't stop acting like they got.
- [43:49]
Landon McCool
Coupons, they'll keep.
- [43:53]
Aisha Morrison
Them. They got to. They have.
- [43:54]
Host
To. To me, that's. That's good. I like that. The coupons. Beautiful NFL coupons. Player coupons, please. Let me ask you guys about this. We got an update on Duron Bland going over the defense, had surgery on his left foot. He's expected to recover for OTAs, but is prioritizing really being ready to go for training camp. You know, what do you think about. About him and his spot and, you know, hopefully maybe this surgery, he'll be healthy and really ready to come back and have a. Have a big.
- [44:29]
Landon McCool
Season. Hope is not a strategy. That's. That's what I would say. I. You know, I'm. I don't love. Don't love a cornerback that has a foot injury. To be.
- [44:39]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Honest. I'm 100% on board with that. I'm 100. And I hope. I mean, my. My hope is that he can. But I'm telling you, you know, I. I've taught my son, and he'll come in here and tell you in a second, there is one thing you cannot mess with your teeth and your feet. And especially with a defensive back, you can't. It's so. It's so difficult. I mean, Achilles feet for a guy who has to. Who has to pedal and go backwards and then stick that foot in the ground and break and drive. It's just difficult, difficult to overcome. Now, was it a. Do they know if it's a Jones or was it a Liz Frank? Has anybody come out and said.
- [45:28]
Landon McCool
That? Do you know, Isha. Because I actually haven't seen what.
- [45:33]
Aisha Morrison
I'm. I'll go look. I don't think that it was a Liz.
- [45:35]
Landon McCool
Frank. I don't think it was Frank.
- [45:38]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Jones. So a Jones fracture is on your. Is that's your. Is that the fifth small toe that's back in your foot that usually has issues? And, I mean, I dealt with that. I mean, all through my time, I still have it. I still have it. Never got it fixed. And it's just, it's one of those things where it, it. They. They usually have to go in and re. Break it and then put a screw in there. And it's really, really telling you. It's one of those things where most positions are fine. That position is not.
- [46:12]
Host
Good. Little, Little story. Story from the past when I used to travel with the Lakers, with, with Shaq and Kobe in that whole three peat run, which was awesome. There was one time Shaq had this injury where the, the gap between his pink, you know, little toe and the toe next to it, like that ripped open. Yeah. And he would show me, like you could see the inside of his foot. And he still played through that. I mean, he used to have to soak his foot in this like, medicine stuff just to keep it from getting.
- [46:51]
Landon McCool
It. Was it lidocaine? I mean, what, what. How did you do that? That's crazy. I don't.
- [46:58]
Host
Know. And he, he got through it and I don't know if it. I don't know how that heals.
- [47:02]
Aisha Morrison
Like, this is very concerning for Duron Bland. You know, the second year in a row he's having a foot surgery. And coach talked about it, the way he plays. This is a guy that likes to take risks, that likes to, you know, drive to the ball, snatch it out the ear. And I, especially with him, you know, doing more stuff in the nickel. I mean, when you're. Those guys have to play through a lot of trash. Those guys have to be able to deal with some of those shifty guys on the inside and stuff like.
- [47:35]
Host
That.
- [47:36]
Aisha Morrison
Yeah. So I am incredibly concerned for him. And I feel like as we cover the draft, Dallas really between, you know, Savon Revel, who's still a nugget, Dallas has to handle this, handle cornerback. Like they have.
- [47:52]
Ad Announcer
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- [47:53]
Landon McCool
Almost.
- [47:53]
Aisha Morrison
Yeah. They gotta start from scratch because a foot is scary. I'm. I mean, I'm. I, I hate to say it because I really like Daron Bland and I think he's gonna battle. He's not gonna just roll over.
- [48:06]
Landon McCool
But. Well, that's why I kind of think that they're. You see them sort of angling towards defensive back coaches. Right. So maybe what their, what their, what their plan is is that you've got a defensive line that maybe you add another draft pick to and you hope it's close enough. Maybe you add a linebacker in the draft and then you go out in free agency, get a veteran corner Right. Maybe two veteran corners. And then you come in here and you bring a defensive coordinator who can help kind of scheme up the back end to help accentuate what they can do. Well, at least have smart guys who can at least play solid technique and hope that you're the brunt of what's happening is, is happening up front with your defensive line and attacking the quarterback. So, yeah, yeah, I, I think if you can't, you know, completely raise and, and then rebuild this defense, you know, in one off season, I think you have to find ways to kind of attack different parts of this defense using different tools in your tool.
- [49:03]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Belt. And again, I think it's all going to come down to, you know, how they, how they, how they line this draft board up. Not having a two or a three is, is really concerning, and it's concerning so much that it means they've got to hit home runs with these first two picks, and it's not unrealistic to expect that, but they've got to hit home runs with, with, with the first two draft picks. It's just there's. I don't think there's any other way around it if you're going to get to where you want to go next.
- [49:35]
Aisha Morrison
Year. Oh, yeah.
- [49:36]
Host
Totally. I think to your point, they'll land in too, as far as hope. I mean, yeah, if you can, you can draft some DBs, that's great, but I mean, expecting rookie DBs to just kind of step in there and be playoff ready to go usually doesn't work that way. Usually I don't care how good you are, you're going to have some growing pains in the NFL. So to your point, if they can find a coach that can take a look at their roster and see what they have and try to make something good of it, and then maybe they can sign, bring some people in, I think that will be the best bet and we'll see how that plays.
- [50:12]
Landon McCool
Out. Yeah, I mean, look, it's as good a strategy as any, right? Like, a lot of these positions are tough to come in as a rookie and play right away, but if you can figure out a way to kind of cobble things together a little bit in the back end and at least get either one of your defensive line or your defensive backfield up to a level where it can put pressure on defenses or cause the other side of the, of that spectrum to operate a little bit better, I think that that makes sense as a strategy of how to fix this quickly. To me, with Ezraku, with the defensive tackles that you have. I think it's probably easier to go the route of, you know, potentially drafting another defensive lineman, drafting another linebacker with those picks and, and, and then using the veteran corner route to try to like, get what you need to kind of cobble together the talent in the back. Because the defensive backfield, it's like it's, it's a weak link.
- [51:07]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
System.
- [51:07]
Landon McCool
Right. So it's, it's not like you need talent. You need top end talent for sure. But if you're just trying to get like to the 15th best defense, if you just have three solid, you know, NFL average corners that could get you where you need to go with ski with, you know, schemed up coverage and a good pass rush. And I think that that's probably a little bit easier to get to than trying to generate a pass rush through blitzing and then hoping that your cornerbacks can handle the back end on that. That may be a little bit.
- [51:35]
Aisha Morrison
Risky. Yeah. I'm curious about, you know, even so how they handle.
- [51:40]
Landon McCool
Safety.
- [51:41]
Aisha Morrison
Yeah. Especially what's happening with Daron Bland. We really don't know what's going to happen at that nickel spot if you do end up having to get a young guy in there or whatever the case may be. I think the coaching like we just talked about on the back end is going to be important too. When you're trying to sift through some of these injuries and guys not being, you know, having nuggets and rookies and, and, you know, new guys to a new scheme is also too. Maybe they do some more nickel stuff. Maybe they, they get a safety that's able to do some big nickel stuff and help in coverage with some of those tight ends and stuff. We saw that. We've seen that here.
- [52:13]
Landon McCool
Before.
- [52:14]
Aisha Morrison
Yeah. So I don't know. There's gonna. They're gonna have to cover up some, some sins. Regardless of how well they draft and go out in free agency, you gonna have to. Clipboard warriors gonna have to come.
- [52:24]
Landon McCool
Out next year, make chicken salad out of chicken drop. Right. Is that the.
- [52:30]
Host
Idea? There you go. I like that. All right. When we come back, our final segment. Speaking of free agency, somebody called out the Cowboys about free agency. I want to run that by you. And if we have a minute or two before we go, would love to get some divisional round playoff thoughts or picks from all of you. We'll do that when we come back. This is the Cowboys squad.
- [52:55]
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Landon McCool
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Landon McCool
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Landon McCool
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Landon McCool
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Lines. Qualifying credit required all right, I want to talk to you about our friends at Indeed and what they've got going on. Because if you've ever hired someone who looked good on paper but wasn't the right fit, you know how important that is now. When you want candidates who truly match what you're looking for, you need to trust Indeed Sponsored Jobs Hiding Indeed is all you need. Hiring Indeed is all you need. You can stop struggling to get your job post seen on other sites. Indeed's Sponsor Jobs Put your post at the top of the page and help you reach the right candidates faster. Now if you need to hire someone for the show, I would go straight to Indeed and be very specific about what I need real experience, not just a resume buzzword. And instead of struggling to get your job post seen Indeed Sponsored Jobs help your listing stand out and reach quality candidates faster. Sponsor Jobs Boost your post to the people that are best match the best match for your role and that really makes a difference. And according to new data, Sponsored Jobs posted directly on indeed are 90% more likely to report a hire than a non sponsored job. So spend more time interviewing candidates who check all of your boxes and with less stress, less time and more results using Indeed Sponsored Jobs listeners of this Show Get a $75 sponsored job credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves. @inn Indeed.com lock on NFL just go to Indeed.com lock on NFL right now and support the show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Okay, welcome back. Final segment of the Cowboy Squad show on this Thursday thanks to Aisha Morrison, Landon McCool and the coach Glenn Stretch Smith. Landon, before we go, what's coming up on the daily Lockdown Cowboys podcast the rest of the week and into the.
- [55:39]
Landon McCool
Weekend? Yeah, I mean, kind of just continuing to follow the coaching carousel as it spins round and round. We may even start dipping into some draft content a little bit more. As we kind of hinted at it, it's that time of year, you know, because we're starting to get Senior bowl invites and Shrine bowl invites obviously as we announced the coaches getting announced. So there's lots of, there's lots of off Season talk to talk about. And then obviously kind of talking about these divisional playoffs and, and how those games kind of affect the Cowboys through the lens of coaches becoming available to interview now suddenly because their team may potentially lose this.
- [56:15]
Host
Weekend. All right, is there one game out of the four that you're looking forward to the most and any possible upsets that we might.
- [56:27]
Landon McCool
See? I kind of wanted to see if Josh Allen can kind of continue that level of play that we saw against this Denver defense and what that looks like. I think he played maybe the best game of his career last week. It was really impressive and it's unfortunate that he's had to continue to play Superman like that. But now that you're playing, you know, a Denver defense, which has been absolutely lights out for the last several years, can he kind of keep up that, that pace? That'll be interesting to.
- [56:57]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
See. Yeah, I think, I think getting Drake Greenlaw back, that's just, that's going to make them that much stronger. So I mean they're going to have somebody who can, who can run him down. And it's almost like Vance Joseph and Sean Payton and this Denver organization has pointed right to this game right here as a, as a return spot for Dre Greenlaw. So it'll, it'll that. I think that's gonna be a heck of a football game.
- [57:24]
Aisha Morrison
Yep. Oh yeah. I'm excited for the, the Bears and Rams game up in Chicago. I just think that that is. I think Kayla Williams has really come along this year and some of the things he's able to do. I mean the arm talent is insane, dog, like so I just, I just think that him and Stafford, even though it's going to be cold, I expect these guys to still throw them all around. So I'm excited about that matchup on.
- [57:50]
Landon McCool
Sunday. That's going to be an interesting game. It's because, you know, Caleb is such a high variance quarterback and, and obviously like extreme highs and extreme lows. I wonder how much Chris Shula is going to be able to try to, you know, contain that a little bit and hopefully, I mean, because even, even it's such a great game that Caleb had last week. I think he completed something like 54 of his.
- [58:12]
Aisha Morrison
Passes. Oh yeah, it was, it was insane. I mean he had some early picks. I also too, I think that that Rams defensive front is going to give Chicago some fits even though they have protected pretty well. I think sometimes Caleb can get a little toy. But yeah, I'm, I'm excited about these. This playoffs has been good Right.
- [58:30]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Coach? I'm all over. I'm all over Houston. I mean, I love, yeah, they're fun to watch. Love how. I mean you talk about how to build a.
- [58:43]
Aisha Morrison
Defense. Oh.
- [58:44]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Yeah. That's how you, that's how you build the defense. And I mean it's, it really is, it's, it's scary how good they are and it's scary how simple they are. I love it. They get after your ass.
- [58:55]
Landon McCool
Boy. Very, very, very straightforward. Cover three, Cover one and they are just going to fly to the football. They're just going to hit you in the mouth every single time and they're not going to miss tackles, nickels. And that's good enough to win in the NFL at a big time level if you've got the.
- [59:09]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Time. They got players that, I mean. Yeah, it's the talent because fits into that.
- [59:15]
Aisha Morrison
Defense. Oh, he's insane. And, and the, and to move him to nickel. Sick. You're sick. He was already crazy as a safety. I mean he's coming downhill with bad intentions every single time. I mean they're so impressive. Landon. Do you, don't you miss Those times? Cover 1, cover 3, turn the ball over. A whole bunch of flat to the ball pass rush. It was.
- [59:34]
Landon McCool
Nice. Those are the days. I remember.
- [59:36]
Host
That. Yeah, I'm excited as well. I mean, I think, you know, for the Texans, I think for the, for me anyway. I think for both the Texans and the Rams and, and the Bills on a different level. But it's, it's weird. Like I say this all the time. For me, the NFL is the no favorites league. You don't want to be the favorite. You want to be the underdog. And because when you're, you're crowned and you're picked, it's just hard, it's hard, hard to perform. It just, it doesn't make sense. But it is. But I feel like for the Rams, like they lose that game to the Bears, their window, you know, you're starting to think, can we, can we do another run, one more run with this group and with Stafford, I don't know if they, what their decision will be for Josh Allen. You guys talked about for the Texans, the defense has been there, the offense has been better. But you know, Denver is going to be, I mean they're going to, they're hard to beat at home and they're going to be sky high. Can Houston, you know, if they fall behind, can they score? Can they keep up with them in their. Can their defense? But it's going to be fun. Great.
- [60:40]
Landon McCool
Matchups. I got. I got to tell you guys, I feel very old now because I went to Matt Stafford's high school football championship game and, and he's like, what, been in the league for 16 years now, so I'm feeling very.
- [60:55]
Aisha Morrison
Old. He's kind of. It's funny because, like, he still looks so young in the.
- [60:58]
Landon McCool
Face.
- [60:59]
Aisha Morrison
Yeah. So I think, like, you gotta remember he's like been in the league.
- [61:03]
Landon McCool
That long because he's very baby.
- [61:04]
Aisha Morrison
Faced. Yeah. The TV, I mean, the TV looked a lot different. TVs was still heavy when he was.
- [61:10]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Playing. That's. That's.
- [61:11]
Aisha Morrison
Right. You know what I'm saying? But I, I also too. I mean, I. There are Nemesis. But what, what, what Shanahan has done with the.
- [61:21]
Landon McCool
49Ers. Oh.
- [61:22]
Aisha Morrison
Man. Just. I mean, talk about coaching. You talk about having like a system in place. They went through so many injuries, so many rotations of guys, and every team has every excuse every year to just keep faltering. But like, they're one of the teams that you got to see like coaching really do a lot of the heavy lifting and you don't get to see that in the league. I mean, guys got to go out and play, but they put together game plans that suited all of these guys. It was just impressive. And then having Salah. Yeah. Having him back just fit right back in like a glove. I mean, that just lets you know that that organization has a plan and they're well run. I'm just, I'm. I'm jealous. I'm.
- [62:03]
Landon McCool
Jealous. The fact that they were running, you know, just Joe's off the street at linebacker last week and they were beating Philadelphia and now they may get Warner back. We'll see if he. I don't understand how, but he out there practicing and we'll see. So. Yeah, just a fantastic coaching job.
- [62:20]
Host
Done. Yeah, he, he. Warner is out for sure this game, but he is back like you.
- [62:26]
Landon McCool
Said. Did they say that for sure he's.
- [62:28]
Host
Out?
- [62:28]
Landon McCool
Yeah. Okay.
- [62:29]
Host
Dreams. But I thought I saw that he's out today and there's no pressure. I mean, they're, they're, they're, they're just the, the underdogs on the road and facing the number one seed. Super.
- [62:42]
Landon McCool
Bowl. Should be here. They shouldn't even be here. So. Yeah, it's all, it's all gravy for them.
- [62:45]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Right?
- [62:46]
Host
Wow. Absolutely. And Sam Darnold had a, some kind of a bleak injury that he says he's going to be fine on Saturday, but that, that can't be good. That's not, that's not a good sign. Those oblique injuries are tricky as.
- [63:01]
Landon McCool
We down at times at offense, so it'll be interesting to see if it has an effect. I mean, the defense may have to carry the day. Another incredible defense just like Houston that has really carried them throughout the season and.
- [63:11]
Host
Postseason. Yeah, good stuff. All right, guys, well, hey, thank you very much. I'll tell you what, I'll save the somebody that criticized the Cowboys for their recent free agency. We'll save that for our next episode next week. But Aisha, any shows with you coming up this week that we need to know.
- [63:31]
Aisha Morrison
About? Girls Talk, Boys Talk is going to be on at 9am Central on next Thursday instead of Monday. That's the only change. And I will be on the stack with Clown Global Media at it drops. Both of both of our shows drops on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3pm so check it out if you want to check out some draft.
- [63:53]
Host
Content. All right, Landon, we'll look forward to seeing you. And Marcus, Marcus will be back next week with us, but look forward to seeing you guys on the daily Lockdown Cowboys podcast. Coach, enjoy the weekend and we'll talk next week as.
- [64:05]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Well. Guys, have a good.
- [64:07]
Landon McCool
One. All right, Coach, See you.
- [64:09]
Glenn 'Stretch' Smith
Guys. All.
- [64:10]
Host
Right. This has been the Cowboys squad.
- [64:13]
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Landon McCool
Team. Every day NFL Six Pack brings you the latest NFL news and analysis and breaks down all of the weekly.
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