COWBOYS SQUAD SHOW: What should the Cowboys do at RB? Is the team set for a playoff run?

Summary

Locked On Cowboys – Squad Show: May 20, 2026

What Should the Cowboys Do at RB? Is the Team Set for a Playoff Run?

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Episode Overview

This Cowboys Squad Show brings together hosts Marcus Mosher, Aisha Morrison, and former Cowboys coach Glenn “Stretch” Smith, with Jeff Biggs moderating, for an in-depth roundtable on current Dallas Cowboys issues. The core themes: evaluating the newly released 2026 Cowboys schedule with its unique challenges, the ongoing debate about the running back depth chart, and whether Dallas is built for a legitimate playoff run. The team also discusses changes to the NFL’s international schedule, player safety, O-line configuration, and position group improvements heading into OTAs. The show is candid, witty, and driven by football realism and classic Cowboys banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking Down the 2026 Cowboys Schedule

[04:05]

• Favorable Early Stretch: Marcus notes Dallas opens with the Giants, a rebuilding team with a new coaching staff and potentially without key rookies. The Brazil game against the Ravens is followed by games at Houston and home vs. Tampa Bay—a tricky but survivable travel path.

  “It’s going to be a really tough schedule... but they’ve got to get off to a fast start against the Giants and against the Commanders.” — Marcus [04:46]

• Late Bye Week & War of Attrition: Aisha brings up concerns about a late bye (Week 14), the toll of 14 straight games, and wonders about how the team will preserve health and depth through the season.

  “How are they going to handle that is going to be important to me—to have the proper depth going into the later part of the season.” — Aisha [05:06]

• Grueling Stretches – Three Games in 11 Days x2: Coach Stretch highlights two separate three-games-in-11-days scenarios, an especially taxing ask, compounded by travel and scheduling quirks.

  “Playing twice, three games in 11 days, it messes out of you.” — Stretch [06:03]

• Coaching and Schematics: Aisha argues the physically demanding stretches will put a premium on coaching creativity (“clipboard warriors”), as there won’t be time for full rest or complicated new game plans.

  “Schematically, whatever advantages they find are going to come into play—physically the body does what the body does.” — Aisha [08:08]

• Prime Time Pull: Stretch notes Dallas has six designated primetime games, plus Thanksgiving (which “might as well be” prime time). Five other NFL clubs have none—testament to “the power of the star.”

  “That’s all you need to know when you think about, you know, the power of how the NFL understands how to market.” — Stretch [09:14]

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2. Player Health, Fairness, and International Concerns

[13:29]

• Is It Fair? Aisha and Marcus debate whether these stretches are “fair”—with Marcus underscoring that fairness is irrelevant at the NFL level.

  “My dad always told me that 'fair' is where you go see the prize-winning pigs. In the NFL, nothing’s fair... the good teams figure out ways to win.” — Marcus [15:56]

• Physical Toll & Injury Risks: Stretch and Aisha agree: you can’t ignore the compounding burdens of travel, game frequency, different playing surfaces, and how they’ll affect the product—and outcomes.

  “It is very difficult for a player to go through a three-game stretch in 11 days... Incredibly taxing on this franchise.” — Stretch [13:33]

• International Grass & Field Quality: Marcus and the group discuss field conditions abroad, pointing to increased risks of injury when teams play at venues unused to NFL-caliber games.

  “That’s always my concern—when you play any international game... that’s where you see these big injuries.” — Marcus [24:20]

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3. Trash Talk: Rivalries & Divisional Fire

[25:49]

• John Harbaugh’s pre-game bulletin board material: Now coaching the Giants, Harbaugh made headlines saying he wants to “kick the Cowboys’ ass.” The panel largely sees it as motivational bluster.

  “If I had to bet, this is just John Harbaugh trying to fire up his team... The last thing you want to do is get embarrassed on SNF at your place.” — Marcus [26:42]

• Trash Talk Philosophy:

  • Stretch, old-school: “I’m from the school—you talk with your helmet, your shoulder pads... shut your pie hole up and go play the game.” [27:23]
  • Marcus: Most banter is friendly, often to guys you actually know. [29:39]

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4. Running Back Room: Crisis or Ready to Wait?

[35:32]

Current RB Depth Chart:

• Javonte Williams (clear RB1)
• Jaden Blue, Malik Davis, Phil Mafah, Israel Abanikanda (futures/competition)

Should the Cowboys Add a Veteran Like Nick Chubb?

• Patient Approach: Marcus recommends waiting to see if young backs emerge before signing a vet like Chubb. He emphasizes the need for Blue, Mafah, and Davis to get every camp/preseason rep, and doubts there’s a huge market for Chubb (fit, health, scheme experience).

  “You want those guys to get every single rep possible... If those guys haven’t stepped up, then you can look to sign Nick Chubb in late August or September.” — Marcus [35:32]

• Scheme Fit & Skill Set: The team wants to see if their young RBs can adapt to more outside zone concepts. Aisha notes they also want more outside runs to use their athletic tackles, not just power/gap between the tackles.

  “I'm looking for Dallas to establish doing more things outside [running]… with the tackles they have, say what you want about Guyton, he is athletic.” — Aisha [43:19]

• Potential Later Options: Names like James Conner and Tyler Allgeier (both with Adams/Cardinals ties) mentioned as better fits if cuts happen later.

• Pass Protection & Football IQ: Stretch explains that at the NFL level, it’s more important for a backup RB to understand protections than just be a runner.

  “At this level... does the running back understand protection?... That’s what really Javonte finished runs. But he showed his worth because he never busted in protection.” — Stretch [41:08]

Expectations for Blue, Mafah, Davis?

• Huge year for Jaden Blue: Marcus: “If he can’t be an impact player this year, it’s going to be really disappointing... it’s an offense that’s built for him to thrive.” [44:40]
• Depth and rotations: Committee approaches are becoming the norm both for freshness and matchup chess.

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5. Offensive Line Debate

[49:17]

• Should Tyler Guyton move to RT and Tyler Smith to LT? The panel isn’t buying ex-tackle Flozell Adams' proposal. “People just be talking,” Aisha jokes [49:17]. Marcus shares a Flozell story involving his hearing issues and why he never switched sides. Stretch argues: let Guyton earn the job first—don't “just start taking coins and flipping them...”
• Tackles’ Athleticism: The panel wants to see more outside runs, utilizing Terence Steele and Tyler Guyton’s athletic profiles.

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6. Defense & Linebacker Depth

[54:33]

• LBs improved: Marcus and Aisha agree LB depth is better than last year, but one more veteran ("downhill thumper" type) would complete the room.

  “I think they're in a much better spot than they were nine months ago.” — Marcus [55:38]

• Defensive Unit Upgrade: The roster has fewer glaring holes—less “all in” on star talent, more functional depth. Marcus: “You're less reliant on one player...I do think they're building to be better one through, let's say, 18 than they were a year ago.” [57:46]

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7. NFL’s International Expansion & 18-Game Season

[60:21]

• International Games Increase: NFL-approved plan: up to 10 league-run international games starting 2027. Teams can no longer “protect” home games from being moved abroad.

  “Any game now on the schedule... that’s all up for grabs now with these international games.” — Jeff [60:21]

• 18-Game Season is Coming: Marcus asserts the two-bye, 18-game, 20-week season will soon be reality. Panel jokes about the grind for both players and media.

  “We’re going to have an 18-game schedule; that’s a guarantee... I hope that we get two by weeks.” — Marcus [60:21]

• Panel Tone: Playful dread but businesslike acceptance: “We love it here in the Locked On Cowboys podcast, we’re going to have content every single day for you. It’s a great thing for us, Stretch.” — Marcus [62:02]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Scheduling Fairness:
  “Fair is where you go see the prize-winning pigs. In the NFL, nothing's fair, right?” — Marcus Mosher [15:56]

• On Trash Talk:
  “You talk with your helmet, your shoulder pads... shut your pie hole up and go play the game.” — Glenn Stretch Smith [27:23]
  “Pie hole is crazy. That came from the depths of your heart.” — Aisha Morrison [27:58]

• On Running Back Patience:
  “You want those [young] guys to get every single rep possible... If those guys haven’t stepped up, then you can look to sign Nick Chubb in late August or September.” — Marcus [35:32]

• On O-line Armchair Analysis:
  “People just be talking, Jeff.” — Aisha [49:19]
  “I wish I could break dance, but here we are.” — Aisha [49:29]

• On Future Scheduling:
  “We're just in a spot... we're not that far away from an 18 game schedule with every team playing one international game. I hope we get two by weeks... It’s coming.” — Marcus [60:21]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Cowboys schedule analysis: [04:05] – [12:44]
• Player fatigue & health concerns: [12:44] – [19:28]
• Field quality and international play: [23:53] – [25:08]
• Running back room deep dive: [35:32] – [46:38]
• O-line debate (Flozell Adams quote): [49:17] – [51:42]
• Linebacker/defensive upgrades: [54:33] – [58:40]
• International game expansion & 18-game schedule: [60:21] – [62:24]

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Conclusion

This lively Cowboys Squad Show episode gives fans a frank, unsparing look at the unique scheduling demands awaiting Dallas, the evolution of the roster (and especially the running back and linebacker rooms), and the NFL’s inexorable push to more games, more travel, and ever-higher stakes. The panel refuses to make excuses—but won’t ignore real risks either. Ultimately, the message is clear: If the Cowboys want to be playoff-caliber, there are no shortcuts, and the next few months in camp will determine whether their depth truly matches their prime-time billing.

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Transcript

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

It's the Lockdown Podcast Network your team every day.

[Marcus Mosher]

All right, son, time to put out this campfire.

[Aisha Morrison]

Dad, we learned about this in school.

[Marcus Mosher]

Oh, did you now? Okay, what's first?

[Aisha Morrison]

Smokey bear said 2.

[Jeff Biggs]

First drown it with a bucket of water, then stir it with a shovel.

[Marcus Mosher]

Wow, you sound just like him.

[Jeff Biggs]

Then he said, if it's still warm, then do it again. Where can I learn all this? It's all on smokeybear.com with other wildfire prevention tips because only you can prevent wildfires.

[Marcus Mosher]

Brought to you by the USDA Forest Service, your state forester and the AD

[Aisha Morrison]

Council, Comcast is delivering extraordinary experiences in live sports through the incredible broadcast and storytelling from NBC, innovative and personalized viewing features on Xfinity and Peacock, and the

[Jeff Biggs]

country's most reliable WI fi.

[Aisha Morrison]

Viewers can enjoy every game changing play faster and more seamlessly than ever.

[Marcus Mosher]

All on a network built to deliver

[Aisha Morrison]

unforgettable moments as close to live as possible. The ultimate experience for the American sports fan. Learn [e-mail] sports

[Jeff Biggs]

I'm Jeff Biggs and I thought today was Monday. No, actually you know why we were off last night. I'll tell you coming up after this.

[Aisha Morrison]

How about them Cowboys?

[Marcus Mosher]

It's the Cowboys Squad.

[Aisha Morrison]

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 Cowboys Squad show starting now.

[Jeff Biggs]

Squad up because it is great to be back with you. We are blessed to be with you every Monday and Thursday nights and also tonight, Tuesday night as we bring you another edition of the Cowboys Squad show. Let's start really quickly with a welcome to our crew, the co host of the daily Lockdown Cowboys podcast, Marcus Moer. You welcome back Aisha Morrison with two eyes. Good to see you Aisha. Welcome back. And we have former Cowboys coach, the one and only Glenn Stretch Smith. Why were we off on Monday night last night? Well, we're going to say that it was to celebrate Marcus Mosher's birthday. With such a big weekend, we needed one more day to get ready for the show tonight. But we're glad to be with you tonight. Happy birthday, Marcus.

[Marcus Mosher]

Thank you. I wish that was the case, but I appreciate it anyways. Jeff means a lot.

[Jeff Biggs]

It's good theater, it's good story, good video, good radio as we say. So we'll just leave it at that.

[Marcus Mosher]

That we we. Jeff, I'm going to tell you, we went to one of the best restaurants that we have up here in Erie, Pennsylvania, at. I know you guys don't have cuisine like this in Dallas, so I. I get it. We went to an unbelievable Applebee's experience. It was. It was phenomenal. So shout out to my family.

[Aisha Morrison]

Y' all are so funny. Applebee's was one of my. Was my first job.

[Marcus Mosher]

I can't beat it. Shout out to Applebee's. Hopefully a future sponsor of this podcast.

[Jeff Biggs]

There you go. I like it. Let's do it. Oh, you know, you reminded me. Thank you, Marcus. Speaking of sponsors, today's episode is brought to you by GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account and use code locked on for $20 off your first purchase. All right, coming up over the next hour, the very latest on the Cowboys. Do you know that we are now less than two weeks away from OTAs? Unbelievable. Some teams are already getting those started early, so we'll get into that. Also, an NFL update that I try to kind of pick my spots with this, but I wanted to run this by you, but Marcus, Aisha, got to start with the two of you because we have not spoken to you since the full Cowboys schedule was released last week. All kinds of different angles, all kinds of different opinions, but for the two of you, Marcus, you can go first. What. What were your takeaways from the Cowboys 2026 regular season schedule?

[Marcus Mosher]

We knew the teams who they were going to be playing and where they were going to be playing months ago, so nothing should be that surprising. But I do think they got some favorable breaks, including playing the Giants in week one with a new coaching staff, likely without Malik Neighbors. We'll see about Cam Scatterbo. They also got a little bit of a break. You know, they play in Brazil against the Ravens and they play at Houston and then home against Tampa Bay. That could have been a worse stretch if they had to do more traveling. Yeah, it's. It's. It's already. It's already going to be bad, but I think this helps it a little bit. It's going to be a really tough schedule, Jeff, but I think it's manageable in the beginning. But they've got to get off to a fast start against the Giants and against the commanders. You get two wins there. I think you're going to be fine the rest of the way.

[Jeff Biggs]

I like that.

[Aisha Morrison]

Yeah, my. My initial thoughts on the schedule were the late by and obviously this key. This team has had to mean every team does you but we work closely with this team. Deal with the war of attrition, and I Just feel like how the, how I wondered how the team is going to. And maybe coach, this is a question that you can answer is like how the team is going to preserve over the course of the season or if that's even a thing, or if it's just full steam ahead and whatever happens, happens, or how the coaches coach and all that stuff. If there's like a, a way to preserve guys. Because 14 games, I mean, again, you got rooks that don't play football that long in college. You know what I'm saying? So I'm like for a full season. So how are they going to handle that is going to be important to me for them to have the proper depth going into the later part of the season. Like Marcus said, I think that it is a tough schedule, as you look at it in a vacuum, but I do think that Dallas has the opportunity to really skin some cats and really be able to fight the boogeyman with some of these teams that they're going up against this season.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

Two, two, three game schedules sketch two, three game scenarios where they're playing three games in 11 days. They do it twice. That a different way. I think it's going to cause you to really keep your game plans somewhat dialed in. Does that help the players? Probably. But from a health standpoint, I think that's the biggest thing. Playing twice three games in 11 days. It mess out of you.

[Jeff Biggs]

Yeah. I did not connect those dots. Coach. Do they have one of those early?

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

We're five minutes into this. I'll go ahead and say it. Sorry to bother you.

[Jeff Biggs]

Those are, that, that's, those are tough stretches. I mean, there's no other way to spin it or sugarcoat it. I mean, period, that's, that's grueling. And I, I have, I have never played in that. So I don't know what that's like, but I can only imagine how difficult that must be to, to be prepared and to be ready. And thankfully they're, they're young guys, they won't talk about it and they'll have a good attitude about it and they'll get after it. But that's, that's real.

[Marcus Mosher]

One of the, I was gonna say one of the benefits that they have is after the Thanksgiving game that they play against the Eagles, I believe they play the Seahawks on Monday Night Football. So they get 11 days to prepare for that game and then they have their buy after that before they play the Rams. So two of their toughest opponents, they're going to get an extensive break to prepare so that part of the schedule is nice. But yeah, stretch is right. Like those weeks where you're going to be playing three games in 11 days, that's going to be really tricky. Now, the Cowboys as a franchise, they have a history of playing in those stretches, so you would think they would know how to prepare their bodies and all that kind of stuff. But yeah, it's, it's a tough stretch.

[Aisha Morrison]

Yeah, I would, I would argue. Am I not. Yeah, I'm gonna make sure I'm not mute. I, I would argue that that time. And coach, again, you can say if it's stronger or not, but I, I think that that's like the coach's time to shine. I call them the clipboard warriors. I think it's their time to shine during those times because like you gentlemen just mentioned, physically the body does what the body does. These guys aren't going to be able to get as much treatment. They're not going to get enough rest, enough as much rest time. So schematically, whatever advantages they find, I think are going to come into play. So I'm, I'm looking at how they handle these stretches as coaches as well, because if I'm, I heard coaches say that they can't really change a lot of their game plans sometime, so maybe familiarity comes into play with some of the stretches. I know there's one where it's like San Fran and then Phillies in there, and I believe the Titans are in between there. Maybe having some familiarity with those teams helps you a little bit, even though the year, it changes year to year. But it's, it's tough. It's gonna be tough. Hopefully they can put together some wins, like you said, early and get off to a good start because the meat and potatoes is, is, is rough for them.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

I think the other thing that's that, you know, I, I've tried to talk, I talked today on my radio show about. And I think it's. Most people don't really understand the power of, of the star, the power of the Dallas Cowboys. The thought that this team is going to play six times in prime time. They have six. And that's not counting Thanksgiving Day, which that might as well be a prime time game. At 3:30. They're going to play six times in prime time. And then you have five teams, Jets, Miami, Arizona, Tennessee and the Raiders combined don't have one primetime game. I mean, that's all you need to know when you think about, you know, the power of how the NFL understands how to market the whole situation as

[Marcus Mosher]

well we should also mention that Jerry Jones talked today about not having a buy before that trip to Rio. And he said, you know, the wear and tear on those 10 hour flights is a lot less than a night out, night out on the town. Which I thought was funny that he thinks that, you know, strolling the streets at the bar at two o' clock in the morning is more harmful to your body than a 10 hour flight. I, I don't know that I disagree, but I don't know that's completely fair either.

[Aisha Morrison]

Have it. Have y' all been on a 10 hour flight?

[Jeff Biggs]

I have not, no.

[Aisha Morrison]

Anybody, any takers?

[Marcus Mosher]

I don't think I have.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

Yeah, we went to, we went, we went twice to play in Tokyo and I, I hope I never even have to. I don't even like, I don't even like the thought of going to Seattle, which is about four and a half. So. Yeah, it's, it's miserable. Yeah.

[Aisha Morrison]

But have you been out? It really shifts your reality like it really does. I mean, being in the air that long and having to adjust to a different time zone, I mean, the air feels different. It's just, it's gonna be interesting.

[Marcus Mosher]

But Stretch, have you been on a night out on the town lately?

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

No.

[Marcus Mosher]

Okay.

[Aisha Morrison]

You talking to, stretching and praying.

[Marcus Mosher]

I just want to know about his, how his body recovered after that, but that's okay.

[Aisha Morrison]

No, you know, he, I try to

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

be in, I try to be in bed before midnight. That comes with age, brother. You figure it out. You figure it out. The older you get.

[Marcus Mosher]

To be fair, stretches. Called me multiple times at like 11 or midnight and I've already been sleeping for two hours, so I don't know what he's talking about.

[Jeff Biggs]

Yeah, midnight.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

Oh man, I'm not gonna go, I'm not. I mean, there's no way I'm going to bed before midnight because I might miss something. But you asked me, am I going to be out on the town? And the answer is hell no.

[Jeff Biggs]

You know, when I look and you guys already hit on it. But you start with that Week 12 Thanksgiving game, right? You got the Eagles and as you mentioned, Marcus, the, the Seahawks 11 days later on the Monday night, the bye week, the Rams, home for the Jags, home for the Giants, and then at Washington, just that whole kind of. Once you get into November. Well, really, I mean, there's great games all throughout the schedule, but I think at the end of the day the Cowboys just need, if they're playing their best and they're, they're in command and they're playing their game doesn't matter. I mean that's you play who's in front of you but they just need to handle their business and take that step forward not only defensively but offensively as well.

[Aisha Morrison]

Can I ask a question? Can I ask, can I ask coach question? Can I ask a question? You got to be honest, you can't lie because I, I feel like Jason

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

kid just got fired before you asked me a question.

[Aisha Morrison]

No, I'm just saying that that like I feel like sometimes people be lying about it now. Okay, so what you just said about the scheduling and what you just said and I know we cover the NFL and all this stuff but what you just said about the scheduling. Do you think it's fair? Do you think that it is fair? I mean obviously it's for the Cowboys are a big brand, they bring in money and all that stuff. But when you talk about the health of the players and things of those that nature you coach for the team, do you feel like it is okay? Is this normal? You're saying?

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

No, it's not. No, it's okay.

[Aisha Morrison]

And it's so okay.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

But I'm also going to say this. I mean what's nor what has always been normal to me. I mean people are, are thinking outside the box a lot. How many, how many I want I was looking at this the other day. How many major college football teams practice in the morning now? Practice before 8:30, 9:00 in the morning. It's a lot now you're talking about something that's natural. Go practice an unnatural game. Playing football with no juice. I mean it's not like those kids are waking up at 6 o' clock eating breakfast. So you know, I think that it taxes your body big time when you have to play that three games in an 11 day stretch. That's, that's an incredible taxing of, of of your body and the Cowboys are going to have to do it twice and one of those is on the front end of a ten hour one way flight. I think it's incredibly it, it's taxing and you know what I don't like is I don't like like self fulfilling prophecies. But I mean I don't even want to start thinking about if you know, if the injury bug hits. I mean that's exactly what people are going to point to. Here's the other thing that I, you know that I think is interesting is that you hear so many players now talking about that they want to have a natural grass surface which I Certainly understand that the problem is, is when you start looking at natural surfaces. As much as the NFL wants to travel internationally. I mean the grass, the way they water the grass, the dirt, the sod, all of that is totally different when you start talking about going to different parts of the world. And so I think it, you know, when you, when you look at, from a player standpoint, and I didn't play in the NFL, but I, I do believe that it, it is very difficult for a player to go through a three game stretch in 11 days. And again, the fact that the Cowboys are having to do it twice, it'll be incredibly taxing on, on this franchise having to do that.

[Marcus Mosher]

I, I don't disagree with anything Stretch said. But Aisha, to answer your question, is it fair? My dad always told me that fair is where you go see the prize winning pigs, right? In the, in the NFL, nothing's fair, right? You just got to figure out ways to manage your schedule and it's going to be tricky. But if the Cowboys want to be a Super bowl caliber team, you're going to have to navigate a tough schedule. You're going to be able to show that you can go on the road back to back weeks and beat contenders in the nfc. You're gonna have to show that on these, you know, three games in 11 days that you can at least win two games. You can go to Rio and beat a team that you don't play very often in Baltimore. I, I, I'm just, I'm kind of at the, my end with send with the excuses with this team and like you know, blaming bad weather or a tough schedule, the good teams figure out ways to win and if they're complaining about the schedule now, which they're not, but I'm saying if we hear into the season how much of a grind the schedule was, I, I get it but I also, I'm not going to feel bad for them. They've got to figure out, you're talking

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

about Aisha, how tough it is to fly and do I think I want to say San Francisco is flying 38, 000 correct miles because they've got to go to Australia and I believe Mexico City, I mean that, you know, you talk about a team that's going to be flying all over the place. That's, that's huge.

[Aisha Morrison]

I mean, and the question was really for me a, a broad question. I, you know, the, the fair thing, the saying, I've heard that plenty, you know, my whole life and things like that. And I understand the reality of that. But then I understand the reality of what we're talking about. Like, I understand that maybe fair is not the word to use. I think coach used taxing. But I, I mean, we can't, we can't just like, to your point, I'm not saying that it's an excuse. I'm just saying we can't act like it don't exist. Just like the officials. Yes, I'm not going to act like the officials don't dictate pacing, change huge games. So I never really subscribe to the. Let's not talk about the officials. No, we need to. It's. It's in the game. It's there for a reason. So it's like. I get what you're saying, but I'm also too. If we're talking about them having to do it twice and I'm sure other teams are doing it as well. But if you're going to talk about the Cowboys in a vacuum, we can't say, oh, they're in prime time. We see them and they may be in prime time more than the other. Any other team. Okay, well, what does that mean? And if. What does that mean? You can't compare them to the same. There has to be a difference in comparison because it is more. It's more frequent for a reason. So. And it has its pros and it has its cons. And I just think. I just wanted to ask if you guys felt like that's a thing.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

Imagine if you were part of the players union and you know that the owners want an 18 game season. I mean, that's another. That's, that's another situation.

[Aisha Morrison]

So I'm just, you know, I'm just, I'm not saying. I, I'm. Marcus, I feel you. I feel you on the fact that, like they're gonna have to play through injury. They're gonna have to figure out how to again, like, navigate this stuff. And this is up to the coaches. It's up to all them. So the trainers, autumn people. But I, I do think as we talk about this, it is going to matter. Because it's gonna matter. We're gonna see it on the field. Let's just be real, y'. All, them Thanksgiving games, when we get to the third and fourth quarter, those guys be tired. So it's going to change the quality of what we're. What we have to talk about. So I'm not, I just, I'm. I just, I just wanted to ask you guys. I'm not tripping.

[Jeff Biggs]

Point noted. Duly note. Well, Noted. Well, good point. Noted, Aisha. And I think, Coach, to your point about the grass overseas, I mean, tragically, I think it's going to take a star player getting injured on one of those overseas fields probably for the issue to be addressed. Unless there's a situation where they get through a game and after the game, a bunch of the players say, man, that field was terrible. And maybe that will, you know, spur the league to make sure that in the future when they go to these overseas stadiums that they have, you know, they take care of the grass and they put in good fields.

[Aisha Morrison]

I don't know what about the fields that historically have issues, though, like in the NFL, like Marcus, I'm sure you know, probably more about the history of certain fields having more. Why? What. What is the protocol? Like, how. How was that addressed? Because you may not be able to make the whole NFL grass and all that stuff, but how can. You better hold that thought. Oh, yeah, my bad. All right. No, no, no.

[Jeff Biggs]

Okay. No, it's a perfect. It's a perfect opportunity to jump in. And Marcus, you can answer that when we come back. And, you know, we're talking about the schedule, but also we have some schedule trash talk. Trash talk schedule. We'll do that when we come back. Great to be with you on this Tuesday night. This is the Cowboys squad show. All right, well, it is game time for us, and you know, all about game time. We talk about them a lot. They got a lot going on. It's. It's that time of the year. We love game time. We love what they do. Big part of the show. Big part of Locked on. And they even have their own little banner. If I can just find it here in a second, which I will. Hang with me. Where did that go? Hold on, hold on. And this is live. There it is. That's the beauty. All right, so, you know, we can. We can stream anything, right? We can order food in minutes. We can do everything from our phones, right? But somehow buying tickets to live events still feels way harder than it should be. You got the long lines, confusing, checkout prices jumping at the last second. Shouldn't be that complicated. And that's why there is game time. It really gives fans the advantage of and makes getting tickets fast and simple. Now, here's the great thing. When you're looking for tickets, you get to see the full price up front. No surprise fees at checkout. I mean, that's the worst. You get excited, you think you got a good deal, you like your seats, and then what? I thought it was this? Nope, none of that. And they have the seat views which are huge. You can. You can check your exact view before you buy, not after. You don't have to go looking around. Gee, I wonder what my seat view looks like. Or I hope these are good seat no, you can to look right before you buy. And they have these things called zone deals where you pick the sections, you save even more. Two taps and you have great seats locked in. It's quick, easy, and actually makes you want to go to more events. So take the guesswork out of buying tickets to every type of event with GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, use code locked on for $20 off your first purchase terms. Apply again, create an account and redeem code locked on L O C K E D o N for $20 off. Download the Gametime app today.

[Marcus Mosher]

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[Jeff Biggs]

all right, we are back. Cowboy squad show. That is Aisha Morrison with two eyes. She's back with us. Marcus Mosher, co host of the daily Locked on Cowboys podcast. Year older. And we got former Cowboys coach Glenn Stretch Smith. All right, Marcus, Aisha was asking about protocols and what about fields around the league right now in the NFL that are notorious for not being great playing conditions.

[Marcus Mosher]

Yeah. So every team is responsible for their field now. They have to get it to a certain standard that the NFL expects. But you can grow the grass out as long as you want. You can have whatever kind of field surface you want to have. But there are teams doing more and more studies to find out what playing surface is the best for injuries. And I know a lot of players prefer to play on grass. It's also harder to maintain grass. We see like in Pittsburgh, by the time you get to November, that field is just a muddy mess and it's hard to play on. But I think this is my concern about these international games. And on Tuesday, the NFL Approved to have 16 international games per season, which means that every team's going to play at least one international game that's always my concern. You get to some of these other fields that aren't used to having NFL football and that kind of quality of field, and that's where you see these big injuries. We had one a couple years ago that Jordan Love got hurt on the final play of the game against Philadelphia because their field wasn't up to snuff. That's always my concern when you play any international game.

[Aisha Morrison]

Thank you.

[Jeff Biggs]

Well, and I have more to say about the international games coming up. We'll save that a little bit there. There's more news that broke today from the owners meetings in Florida that we'll get to coming up. But back to the schedule. So we know, we've known that the Cowboys are going to Open up Week 1 Sunday Night Football against the Giants. Well, how about John Harbaugh jumping in the fray early, throwing some gas on the fire. Harbaugh, when asked about the rivalry in the past and everything else, said that he doesn't care about what has happened in the past. Instead, he's focused on improving the Giants so they can kick the Cowboys. Bleep with two S's, not two eyes,

[Marcus Mosher]

but try to figure that one out.

[Jeff Biggs]

That's good, though. I like it. I like it.

[Aisha Morrison]

Listen, I ain't got that much to say. Don't a robbery got to be like reciprocal or something? Like, you gotta be. I haven't seen. I'm only saying that because of Dak Prescott. I've, I mean, I, I have not his career since, since he's been in the league. It's been difficult for the Giants to beat the Cowboys. So I'm, I, you know what? But I, I get the fire. And I'm, I mean, I do like that the division is growing, competition wise. I like to see what Harbaugh does with them. The Giants always have talent. They always have talent. Like their roster typically has guys on the defensive line and stuff like that. So I was like, well, we'll see what they can do this year. I think they added a tackle too, right, Marcus. So we'll see if they can do a little bit better offensively, but. Okay. Okay, John. Okay.

[Marcus Mosher]

If I had to bet, if I had to bet. This is just John Harbaugh trying to fire up his team. I mean, you're right. Yeah. And the Giants have not had a lot of success against the Cowboys over the last five, 10 years. It's a very young team. I think they just want to get his team fired up and ready for this moment because they know that it's a national Stage with everybody watching. If they get off to a good start, they beat the Cowboys in week one. That's how you kind of build positive momentum going into your season.

[Aisha Morrison]

Sure.

[Marcus Mosher]

The last thing you want to do is get embarrassed on Sunday Night Football at your place. I think this is a way of Harbaugh trying to Jedi mind trick his players into believing that they're going to win this game.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

Yeah. I mean, or the flip side happens. You go out and get your ass whipped. I mean, on Sunday Night Football. And now, you know what? Start your career and your season, you know, with it, with, with a good, with a good whipping. So, you know, I mean, I, does that do much for me? Not, not, not at all. I mean, you know, anybody can step in front of a mic and say anything. I've always, I mean, you've heard me say it 100 times. I'm from the school. You talk with your helmet, your shoulder pads. Shut your pie hole up and go, Go play the game.

[Marcus Mosher]

You like the trash talk, Stretch?

[Aisha Morrison]

Pie hole is crazy. That came from the depths of your heart.

[Jeff Biggs]

Yeah, that was.

[Marcus Mosher]

Stretch, did you ever, I gotta ask, did you ever trash talk when you were a coach?

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

No. I mean, I might. If somebody says something, I might. I, I, I, I'd probably, you know, I could probably, you know, I, you know, I mean, there's a lot of times, you know, guys tell you hook them unicorns, and you kind of had a saying back for that, you know, what is that? Your iq? You know what I mean? You'd bump back with a little. But I mean, it's not like I want to get into some sort of, you know, some sort of banter. I mean, no, I mean, usually it'd be, you know, shut the F up, get on your side of the field. I mean, just, you know, I don't hear all that. We don't hear all that bull corn.

[Marcus Mosher]

He talks trash to me. I don't know what he's talking about.

[Aisha Morrison]

I'm like, I was like, I wanted

[Marcus Mosher]

to see what his thoughts.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

Let me tell you that when I, when I'm talking it to you, that's only because I like you. If I didn't like you, I wouldn't say rip.

[Jeff Biggs]

Yeah, yeah. He'd just say, sorry to bother you.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

That didn't mean bother you.

[Aisha Morrison]

He don't even. But he don't even be meaning that he do be wanting to bother you. Look at his face.

[Jeff Biggs]

You know, in all seriousness, I mean, Micah was an epic trash talker. Probably still is. I don't know if he is as much as he used to be, but I mean, you could hear him, you could hear him in the stand sometimes, depending on how quiet it was. I would wonder how much, how much of that still goes on in the NFL today. Because it's just different. Everybody's friends.

[Marcus Mosher]

It still happen. Well, I mean, Jeff, I don't know. Typically the most, if you've ever been in a competitive environment at all, the most trash talking generally happens to players that you like or that you played against in the past. Right. Or your buddy that you went to college with. Right. Because you know them and you know the insults that can get them going a little bit. Right. That's when you really get it. So, yeah, it's. I, I think we still get a healthy amount of it today in the NFL.

[Aisha Morrison]

It goes on in the vid. On the video game too now, so. Oh, yeah, they take it from, they take it from here.

[Jeff Biggs]

Nice.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

Yeah.

[Jeff Biggs]

Wow. There you go.

[Aisha Morrison]

Don't get it twisted. They still talking crap. I, I actually don't like so much of the taunting foolishness and stuff. I'm like, gosh, it's football.

[Jeff Biggs]

All right, I'll tell you what, let's. Because I want to get into a topic here that I, I, you know, maybe it's nothing, but I wanted to run it by you guys. I, I wanted to just kind of go over the running back situation. We haven't done that in a while and I, I know it's maybe seems like it's no issue or it's, it's set. But I just think the more we talk about this schedule and the long season and all the, all the keys about this offense wanting to be the best in the NFL. I just don't think it's something you can just sweep under the rug and just overlook. And that's no big deal. They're fine. So why don't we do that when we come back? Marcus, before we do though, I know you're not going to go out on the town, but we have the Everydayer Club, which is an even better place to hang out. You don't have to stay up till two in the morning. You can get into the chat room, right? And you can hang out with Marcus and Landon. I mean, it's a whole new Hang

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

out with Corn Mine. Carmine's on that.

[Aisha Morrison]

Oh, my God.

[Jeff Biggs]

Remember, he's, he's a member.

[Marcus Mosher]

Yeah, he is a member. Now, don't forget to check out that every dare club where you can get ad free episodes of the Locked On Cowboys Plot podcast. Plus, exclusive Discord server access with Landon and I and other listeners of the show. Just tap the link in the show notes or go to Loton Cowboys.Supercast.com to join the club.

[Jeff Biggs]

Beautiful. Thank you, Marcus. All right, got to talk to you, though, about Indeed. Because you don't want workplace chaos, right? Right. Like, when we're doing the show, we don't. We don't want chaos. We want everything to go smooth. Right. We don't want any issues like you should be able to. To click on the ad pretty quickly, like I'm not doing. It's amazing. It almost seems like these switch around every show, but they don't. It's just me. And so, you know, you got the deadline stacking up, your inbox overflowing, and the one position that you have to fill still sitting open. And when the pressure's on, you need the right hire. This is a job for Sponsored Jobs. Now here's the thing. Indeed Sponsored Jobs helps you reach people who actually fit what you're looking for. Skills, experience, location. So you're not just hoping the right candidate stumbles across your post. And if you're hiring right, you want to spend less time searching and more time interviewing candidates who check all of your boxes. And you want to do so with Indeed Sponsored Jobs. So that's it. I mean, it's real simple. Spend less time searching, more time actually interviewing candidates. And when you want to cut through that chaos, it's a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs. And listeners of the show right now will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves. Indeed.com podcast, just go to Indeed.com podcast right now. Support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com podcast terms and conditions apply. Need to hire. This is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs.

[Marcus Mosher]

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[Jeff Biggs]

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[Glenn Stretch Smith]

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[Jeff Biggs]

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[Glenn Stretch Smith]

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[Marcus Mosher]

After all, you listen to this show.

[Jeff Biggs]

See [e-mail] creditcard. All right, we are back. Cowboy Squad show. Great to be with you on this Tuesday night. Even better than a Monday night this week. Aisha Morrison, Marcus Moser, Glenn Stretch Smith. A lot of great comments. Thank you everybody for hanging with us tonight. We will be back with you again on Thursday night. And then little Programming note, next week, we're going to be with you on Tuesday night as well, because Monday is Memorial Day. So hope you enjoy that and have a great weekend. All right, so, you know, we, we, we're getting closer to OTAs, and I just wanted to read the running back room for a quick second, if we could. Behind Javante Williams, you got Jaden Blue, Malik Davis, But I think it's a legit question. You're starting to see a lot of, a lot of names and rumors. Nick Chubb has been the big name over the last few days that the Cowboys should bring him in. But just taking a step back and keeping it real, I mean, what, what, what would that cost? I mean, what would that take? What would that do to Blue, you know, if you bring somebody like that? I mean, would Nick Chubb come in for just an invite without any guaranteed money? I guess it depends on the offers he has. And, you know, what about, what about the offensive line and their role in the running game? And should, should the Cowboys just stick with Blue and Davis at training camp and see how they do first and then make a move? What do you guys think?

[Marcus Mosher]

So, I, I feel pretty good about this one. I, I think Nick Chub is a guy that you look to sign in late August or September if Jaden Blue and Phil Mafa have not stepped up, because you want those guys to get every single rep possible before you have to go out and add a veteran. And these guys aren't going to get better by sitting and not playing. That's what they did the entire 2025 season. I want, and I should add Malik Davis in there. I want those three running backs to get every opportunity possible. And I think a guy like Nick chub, who he's 30 right now, he's really only ever played in a wide zone scheme. This is a gap scheme. So it's going to be different than what he's used to. What he's used to. I, I don't think there's going to be a big market for him. I, I really don't. So I do think you can afford to be patient here. And I think there's going to be running backs like Nick Chubb available well into August and into September. So I, I honestly think they're okay being patient here.

[Jeff Biggs]

Okay.

[Aisha Morrison]

Yeah, I think the same. I mean, also, too, to add to, you know, the conversation of who's in the room, I obviously know the team is a little bit more higher on Malik Davis than I think people are considering. When you talk about the Running back room. And then as Marcus mentioned, Jaydon Blue, we're looking for him to take a step. Phil Mafa I, I do agree that I think Dallas wants to see what they have in these, these young running backs they have here now. They also signed Israel Bandaconda to a futures deal and I mean, sounds like they have been looking at him, you know, even the year prior. This is somebody that they also liked in the draft that year that he came out. So we'll see what he could add to the competition in the room too. I, I agree with y'.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

All.

[Aisha Morrison]

I think that I, Dallas is going to see what happens early on in camp and early on in, in preseason, and if they have to, they will. Do you think that, do you guys think that the scheme is, is good enough to navigate having guys that, you know, behind Javante Williams, that we don't really know what they are yet?

[Marcus Mosher]

I think it can work. And I think a guy like, who's, yeah. Who is played again, he's played primarily wide zone and off offenses like that, but he's a smart player. He can figure it out. It's not, it's not all that different. I mean, it, it is different, but I think he would be fine. And there they do run some wide zone stuff and they run inside zone stuff and it's I, without getting way into the weeds, it can work.

[Aisha Morrison]

What about you, Coach?

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

What's, what is, what is a, what is a back that comes out of a wide zone scheme? What is that?

[Marcus Mosher]

Well, it's a guy that's primarily reading the keys of the offensive line. Right. Or really, you know, reading the gaps rather than just trusting his instinct and looking for the vision. Like I, I, I don't know if EMT Smith would have been a f, you know, a fantastic wide zone runner. Like if you put him in the Alex Gibbs offenses, I don't know if he would have been as successful there, but I think in Dallas's power offense where he could get downhill with a fullback, I thought he, and that's, that's just a much better scheme for him.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

I gotcha. Now, I'm just asking what, what your reference point is. I mean, to me, if you, if you're coaching a guy to run wide zone, he chases the outside hip of the tight end. He teach you guys to run inside zone, he chases the outside hip of the guard. What, what is it? Well, I mean, that's just an aiming point right where you're going. I mean, Emmett Smith was not a big zone runner because the minute That a color flashed. He looked, he looked back hard inside. So I mean, if you're, to me, if you're a, if, if you can run zone, there's not a whole lot of difference in that and running toss or anything outside that you're really chasing what is, you know, the outside hip of a tight end. You've heard me say this before. Having coached the tight ends, you're not going to overtake a 34 outside linebacker or a 7 or a 9 technique in the NFL as a tight end. All you're going to do is try to widen him. And then once you feel and see color, then you're going to, you're going to get that ball's coming back inside 99 times out of 100. So I think running backs today understand all of those things and that doesn't mean that, you know, guys don't fit like you're saying schemes better. I think the more important thing is does the running back understand protection? Is it natural for him to when he hears a protection and he has to dual read a front side look, is he comfortable dual reading that? Does he understand how to go inside out on those situations and use leverage? So I think it's much more about, especially for a back at this level, not so much whether he can or can't run certain running plays. It's does he understand how to play with leverage and does he understand protections and is he smart from a protection standpoint? Because I think that's what really Javante finished runs. No question about that. But he showed his worth to the football team because of the fact that he never busted from a protection standpoint.

[Aisha Morrison]

May I add, has as coach said that with the running back it's not necessarily. It's the skill. I, I wanted to also mention that I think it's also the skill set as well because as you look at Clayton Adams when he was with the Cardinals, they did do some outside zone type stuff from based off of the description that you gentlemen are saying and listening to Clayton Adams talk, it sounds like I do think they want to involve that more in the offense. However, I don't know if they had the guys that, you know, Javante isn't a guy that just is capturing the outside. We didn't see Dallas have a really successful screen game or anything like that either. I'm looking to see. I think the skill set of the gentleman that you're bringing in also too has to fit what you want to do. So I'm, I didn't think that Chubb wouldn't be a fit. I just think that what they're looking for in tandem with him, with. With what they already have didn't fit to me. Yeah, what I was saying.

[Marcus Mosher]

Yeah, we should talk about that because that's a. That's a really good point. What type of running back are they looking to have behind Devonte? Do they want the guy that can be more of a, you know, you put him in space and make plays with speed, or are they looking for a guy that can play between the tackles, can run, you know, play through contact, can move the chains? They didn't really have that guy last year. Like, anybody that you felt like could just take eight to nine carries between the tackles and get you four yards when you needed to get four yards. Like, and that's why, Aisha, I wonder, like, if James Connor is available after the Cardinals drafted Jeremiah Love at 3, is that a guy that could potentially make sense if the Cardinals cut him or one of them?

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

They signed All Gear too, right?

[Marcus Mosher]

Tyler Algier. Yes. Yeah. And they drafted Trey Benson in the third round the year before, right? Yeah.

[Aisha Morrison]

So, yeah, they. They're loaded up there. So he's familiar with the scheme, like you mentioned. That's what I'm saying. Like, that's what I'm thinking. When you guys brought up Chubb, immediately, I thought, like, what does this room need and what did they lack last year that I know, that I've seen in Clayton Adams system that I know he probably wants to implement more of? He just didn't have. I like coach.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

He had certainly no Connor as good as anybody, right?

[Aisha Morrison]

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And then so there's familiarity there with. There as well. So that's just something to keep an eye out on. But I am looking for Dallas to establish doing a little bit more things outside. And I think they were limited doing some more outside runs, especially with the tackles that they have. I mean, say what you want to say about guiding. He is athletic. That is what he is for. So I'm hoping that they can try to attack that a little bit more, especially with Terrence Steele lead blocking, see if they can get some motion there with those guards pulling and stuff. So, anyway, yeah, hopefully they can do more of that this year.

[Jeff Biggs]

I have an O line question coming up in a second, but just one final running back question. So we, we've. We've hit on this briefly, but if you're J, Don Blue, Phil Mafa, Malik Davis, I mean, number one, I would think you would be a lot more comfortable with things coming here into season number two. But then also with that said, what, what are the expectations in season number two? Like, realistically? I mean, I would think it's a great opportunity, right, to come in and still kind of a clean slate because like you guys just said, nobody's really taken that backup job and run with it per se and carved out a niche where they were, as you said, they weren't. It was not a regular part of the offense last season at all until till week 18.

[Marcus Mosher]

That's why this is such a big opportunity for Jaden Blue. You're going in year two, you know this offense. You played well in week 18. I get it. It's week 18. But this team is so desperately looking for a running back that can get you 8 to 10 touches, that can be explosive, they can catch the ball out of the backfield. He doesn't need to do a ton to be a valuable player on this offense. And if he can't be an impact player this year, it's going to be really disappointing because he certainly has the talent and it's, it's an offense that's built for him to thrive. I, I expect him to look much better here in year two. I really hope that he has grown up and we heard Brian Schottenheimer talk about, you know, how he needs to be more of a professional. This is a big time opportunity for him. I like Phil Mafa. I've always been a Phil Mafa fan. He's just more limited athletically. Like he's. He has one certain role. I think he can do it well, but he's never going to be a featured back. He's never going to be a home run hitter. And I think Malik Davis is a fine RB3 or, you know, fill in, but it's Blue is the guy that could really change the trajectory of this offense.

[Aisha Morrison]

I agree.

[Jeff Biggs]

All right, Coach, any thoughts?

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

No, I think it depends on who. I really think it depends on who's available. I think what they're going to do is they're going to give every opportunity to these younger guys, especially through the preseason where, you know, where Dak is not going to be playing that much, if at all, then you got to give those other guys every opportunity to show that they can do it. And then when they can't, then, you know, I mean, whether it's Chubb or Connor, they'll be. There'll be multiple guys, I think, that have veteran experience out there, you know, and I'm saying, you know, midway through

[Jeff Biggs]

the preseason and are we, I Mean, aren't we kind of seeing already kind of a little bit of a shift around the league where you're seeing more and more teams kind of have a committee, not, not a committee, but they, they play two backs by quarter, like want to play the first and third, want to play the second and fourth, and they view that as a way to keep them fresh. And sometimes it's, it's just because maybe they don't like how the starter is, is playing. But you know, that that's. There's something to be said though, I think about having more than one back to be able to, to.

[Marcus Mosher]

Yeah, well, I, I was going to say, Jeff. In the 80s and 90s, a lot of times you could get away with one running back handling 90 of the work for a couple different reasons. There was fewer plates plays in a game just because the tempo was a little bit slower. There were fewer games in the season. We just played more football now than ever before. And also teams didn't rotate as many players on defense. So when you got to the fourth quarter, if you had a running back that was in really good shape, they could, a lot of times, you know, that's when they could really play well. But now teams are playing 18, 19 guys on defense every single week. That just wasn't the case. In the 80s 90s, your starters played almost every single snap. Now you've got to have guys that are fresh all game long. And that's why you see more of these running back by committee approaches.

[Aisha Morrison]

Yeah, it's a financial thing as well. We've seen the running back position be the what, what devalued a bit, you know, in the last few years and whatever. But the good teams know what's up. The good teams know that a steady run game is important and, and as far as like splitting the guys and stuff, I look at it as, you know, the resting part of it's important and longevity. But the matchup game, I want, I want, you know, multiple guys, you know, just like in any other, in any other position that we have on the field outside of quarterback that can do multiple things. And we've seen an uptick of receiving esque running backs in the NFL now, like we're seeing guys come out and that's like a big part of their game. So I, I feel like just the position has changed as well and, and we're finding running backs are finding other ways to be on the field outside of just being a running back as well or just running out the backfield.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

Well, that's I mean, that's what you got with Christian McCaffrey, right? I mean, you got a matchup problem with Christian McCaffrey.

[Jeff Biggs]

Yeah. All right, let me ask you about the O line really quick. What did you guys think of the flow from Flozell Adams talking to Calvin Hill? He thinks that the Cowboys should move Tyler Guyton to right tackle and the Tyler Smith should move from guard to left tackle.

[Aisha Morrison]

People just be talking, Jeff.

[Jeff Biggs]

Okay.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

Why do they think that?

[Aisha Morrison]

People just be talking.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

I think I'd like to go hit the lottery tonight, but hit it.

[Aisha Morrison]

That's what I'm saying. I, I wish I could break dance, but here we are.

[Marcus Mosher]

Can I tell a Floel Adams story really quickly, please? If you don't remember, played left tackle for the Cowboys, which I always thought was interesting because he was, he was partially deaf, primarily in his right ear, which made it really hard for him to hear the snap count. And that's why he had so many false start penalties for his career. So as a young Cowboy fan, I, I always wondered, well, why did these coaches just move them to the right side? That way he could hear better. Apparently they thought he was a left tackle and not a right tackle.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

I mean, two segments ago you guys talking about running the ball outside. I mean, so if you're gonna run the ball outside, you got a better, you gotta have a better, more quick footed, more nimble guy outside. So which one is it? You want a guy that can anchor more from a pass protection standpoint or do you want to, do you want to say, hey, you know what, we're going to be running the football outside more. So we gotta, we gotta have a guy that's more athletic and a bet and a better athlete. So I mean, you can't. To me, you drafted Guyton knowing he had great feet. Give him an opportunity. He's been hurt, he's been banged up some. Give him an opportunity to go in there and show that he's the guy before you just start taking coins and flipping them up in there. Whether it's heads or tails or whether you're going to move guys around.

[Aisha Morrison]

Yeah, I mean, like I said, and touching base with, you know, during training camp and touching base with people like, I really, I. My understanding is that they, they wanted to do more of those things. I think obviously guiding. Being injured was a thing, but as far as the running backs, I, I don't, I didn't feel like there was a guy like Javante Williams has pretty good vision, but it is not his. That's not his stilo to be capturing the edge and you know, all that, that's just not his. It's not how he get down to get down. So I do think that's an element of this offense that, to your point, coach would help out these tackles even in a Terence Steel. That's, that's a part of his game as well. That's where he thrives as well. How can you get the most out of them with. In tandem with this running game this year?

[Jeff Biggs]

Aisha, I gotta confess. I, I. The last couple minutes I've been thinking about breakdancing. I, I went to high school with a guy that was, was phenomenal. And back in the day, the big thing was you would. Everybody would get together like in parking lots and they would. Somebody always had like a big piece of cardboard and they'd throw the piece of cardboard in the parking lot and they'd bring out the. They have the dual speaker cassette player and go to town.

[Aisha Morrison]

So.

[Jeff Biggs]

Good times.

[Aisha Morrison]

I was just talking mess. The fact that you really had a story is wild. Not they had you.

[Jeff Biggs]

Yeah, exactly.

[Marcus Mosher]

You're talking about a track. Now.

[Jeff Biggs]

My mom had an A track in the, in her truck.

[Aisha Morrison]

Come on, coach. We know you had a. We know you had a CD player or you had a boombox. You had a boo box.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

No, I mean, I had a, I had, I had a eight track in a big, in a big, big foot truck. I, I showed up at the skating rink. I was, I was all about that Some of them tight Jordache jeans on. I was.

[Marcus Mosher]

Yeah, never mind, man. Never mind, Aisha. That he's the man. That's, that's all he's trying to tell you.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

This will be a, this will be a couple skate guys choice. Couple skate guys.

[Aisha Morrison]

I knew when he talked about the jeans, I knew what time it was.

[Marcus Mosher]

I was a rollerblader. I wasn't one of the skating guys. I was trying to be cool with the rollerblades.

[Aisha Morrison]

Oh, I could do both.

[Jeff Biggs]

Skating rinks are good times, man. Good times. Skating rinks. All right, let's take our final time out. When we come back, gonna circle back to this international game. The. The NFL made it, quietly made an announcement. But they added something even different to the whole international games situation. We'll get into that when we come back. Final segment coming up. This is the Cowboys squad show.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

Here's the thing about bad cholesterol. It can silently build up in your arteries over time.

[Jeff Biggs]

High bad cholesterol may increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. Is your bad cholesterol low enough. Talk to your doctor about setting a goal to help lower your bad cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke. There's more to know about bad cholesterol. Learn more about the [e-mail] brought to you by Merck. We are back. Cowboy squad show. Before I get to that, Marcus, what do you. Well, I was two things. Thank you. Real quickly, you and Landon on the daily Lockdown Cowboys podcast and if I'm not mistaken, your episode today, we were talking about the Arby's. You, not, not the roast beef but Arby's. And you, you, you, you and Landon were talking about the LBs. The linebacker.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

You and Landon were talking about horsey sauce.

[Aisha Morrison]

Yeah, listen, listen, Jeff, before I will not tolerate any RV slander on this show.

[Marcus Mosher]

Bees. But that's fine. Yes, we're talking, we were talking about the linebackers. We were basically what we were doing. We looked at the depth chart now and we're trying to compare it to week one going into that Philadelphia game last year and how much better or worse do we feel about each position? And, and I made the case for linebacker being better because last year I just, I never bought into the Kenneth Murray experiment at all. You had demarvian overshone coming back from a major knee injury. He wasn't going to see the field until at least November. You had Jack Sanborn and then a rookie, Shemar James, where I think this year over shown's healthy D. Winters is better than anybody they had last year. Shemar James is in year two and you've got Jayshawn Barham who at least gives you some size and athleticism. I'm not saying it's significantly better, but I do think they are in a much better spot than they were, you know, nine months ago.

[Jeff Biggs]

Okay. So are they set?

[Marcus Mosher]

I don't think they're set. I still think they could add one more downhill thumper. Not a guy that needs to be an every down player but like in the Landon Roberts, Jermaine Pratt, one of those guys who's out on the market. If they can do that, I do think they would be in a much better position.

[Aisha Morrison]

I agree. I think they should add at least one more veteran. But I think they're going to probably handle it the same way that you gentlemen were saying. How they should handle running back is a wait and see, you know, let's see how things go. I, I think to your point, Marcus, I think they have less leeway there in that regard. I want, especially with how Running backs go, but I would think that they would be adding another one more veteran to your point, just to give themselves a little bit more insurance on the back end.

[Jeff Biggs]

And it sounds to me, I don't want to get ahead of anybody, but it sounds to me like my guy over shown is getting excited. He is. He sounds motivated, he sounds hungry, he's fired up. He knows new contract is around the corner and I think he's. He's looking forward to balling out. So I'm looking forward.

[Aisha Morrison]

Huge, huge year for him. I really hope that he can help this defense and stay healthy because him. Him on the field and his length and his speed and stuff, it matters. I. I just. I hope that this sec, to Marcus's point, this second level got to be better. People have been tearing up your second level for like the last three years, tearing up the middle of the field.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

So I was looking at this list earlier. So this time last year, your defensive players that were making a boatload of money, you had Diggs, Fowler, Parsons, Murray, O, Diggy Zoo, Donovan, Wilson, all gone. Now you got Clark, Gary Bland, Caleb Downs, Jalen, Thompson, Quinn, and Williams and D winners. I mean, I. All of those guys, in my mind, that, that. That's an upgrade. Maybe minus obviously Micah, but. And osa. So you've traded out guys and gotten better. From a roster standpoint,

[Marcus Mosher]

it doesn't feel like they have as many obvious holes as they had at this time last year. Now you don't have the superstar that can cover all those up in Michael Parsons. At the same time, you're just less reliant on one player. And I think Green Bay ran into this last year with Micah. Like, they were a really good team. When Micah was on the field, as soon as he got hurt, that was a team that could not win a game and could not stop anybody. I think the Cowboys wanted to insulate themselves a little bit so they weren't so reliant on one player, much like Seattle. Seattle last year had injuries galore on defense, but because they were so talented top to bottom, they were able to absorb those losses and ultimately win the Super Bowl. They're not close to that Seattle defense, but I do think they're building to be better one through, let's say, 18 than they were a year ago.

[Aisha Morrison]

Yeah, they're building to be a unit.

[Marcus Mosher]

Yes.

[Jeff Biggs]

Well said. Yeah, I like it together.

[Aisha Morrison]

And so. So. And as we've talked about this, we talked about this prior to the draft, it is not gonna all get cleaned up in one year. However, if you were going to like if you were going to start off. I think I really do believe they had put themselves in probably the best position they possibly could post draft to this point. So you add a linebacker or whatever the case may be and you go forward with the season.

[Jeff Biggs]

Like, however is a very underrated word. However. I mean it really. You do a lot with however I can. Really, Seriously, I'm not being funny.

[Aisha Morrison]

It's the military. They tell you, however, comma,

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

all right,

[Jeff Biggs]

so the, the NFL owners meetings going on in Florida this week. And as Marcus mentioned, the owners approved the number of league run International Games from 8 to 10 beginning in 2027. But here's. Here's a little kicker that they slipped in today that maybe you missed. Teams are no longer able to protect specific home games from being moved internationally after previously being guaranteed two home games that they could protect each season with. League officials say that this will give the schedule makers more flexibility when building future international matchups. So any game now on the schedule, you know, we get the home in the way every year. Like the day after the season ends, that's all up for grabs now with these international games starting next season.

[Marcus Mosher]

We're just in a spot where we're not that far away from an 18 game schedule with every team playing one international game now, I hope that we get two bye weeks. I think that would really improve the quality. Go to a 20 week NFL season, remove one of the preseason games. We're. We're good. We're going to have an 18 game schedule. Like that's a guarantee. If they want to make it work, I think that's the best way to do it. Cut down in the preseason games, give them two buys, get a buy after the international game. Maybe you get it before. You can kind of choose how you want to do it, but it's coming.

[Aisha Morrison]

It has to be 20 games for them to have two buys. 18 is not enough.

[Marcus Mosher]

You gotta say 18 games.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

18 games with two buys.

[Marcus Mosher]

Yes, 18 games, two buys, 20 weeks tracking.

[Aisha Morrison]

Oh, Lord. I was scared. I was. I was like, wait, okay, well, that makes sense.

[Marcus Mosher]

That's too much.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

The CFL plays 20.

[Aisha Morrison]

Oh, they do?

[Marcus Mosher]

Yeah. Wider field that you can also kick the ball into the stadium and get a point. So let's not follow that.

[Aisha Morrison]

So I'm just gonna see myself out?

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

No, I, I know. I just. You made this. You said 20 games and I was just making sure. I mean, that I understood too. It's 18 game. Marcus is saying they're headed to an 18 game schedule in a 20 week season, which would then include two buyers.

[Aisha Morrison]

Yeah, sounds horrible.

[Jeff Biggs]

It's a lot of fun.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

That's a lot of football. It is a lot of football. But I mean, can you imagine if college football, I mean, expands that playoff? That's going to be a lot of football, too.

[Aisha Morrison]

Lord have mercy.

[Marcus Mosher]

We love it here in the Locked on Cowboys podcast, we're going to have content every single day for you. It's a great thing for us, Stretch.

[Jeff Biggs]

That's right.

[Marcus Mosher]

Content.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

Oh, yeah. There you go.

[Aisha Morrison]

Yeah. Cause y' all gonna be. We gonna be stuck here.

[Marcus Mosher]

Yeah, we're gonna be talking about.

[Aisha Morrison]

I don't know if y' all looked at the. Y', all. Did y' all look at the schedule? Autumn, it's gonna be some late nights in there.

[Marcus Mosher]

It's gonna be so much better than talking about Max Crosby potential trade. So I can't wait.

[Aisha Morrison]

We're gonna be up at 1am A lot of times.

[Jeff Biggs]

All right, well, with that said, we will leave it here for this episode tonight and we'll be back with you again on Thursday night. But Marcus, we look forward to you and Landon on the daily Locked on Cowboys podcast. Aisha, I know one of your shows dropped today already, right? Girls Talk, Boys Talk.

[Aisha Morrison]

Oh, yeah, Girls Talk, Boys Talk was on. And then we will be filming an episode for the Stack with Brian Broadest and Zach Woolchuck as we're still talking through some draft stuff and some stuff that relating to the Cowboys, so.

[Jeff Biggs]

All right, coach. Hear and hear you on the radio and watch you on tv, buddy.

[Glenn Stretch Smith]

Sorry to bother you, Jeff.

[Jeff Biggs]

Okay.

[Aisha Morrison]

Oh, my God, he's so dramatic.

[Jeff Biggs]

Until Thursday. Enjoy the rest of your week. We'll be with you Thursday night. This has been the Cowboys squad show. The NBA playoffs are here and every possession matters.

[Marcus Mosher]

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[Marcus Mosher]

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