Locked On Cowboys – Depth Tested as Injuries Mount: Can They Weather the Storm?

Hosts: Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool
Episode Date: September 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the mounting injury crisis facing the Dallas Cowboys after their Week 3 loss to the Bears, particularly injuries to key starters CeeDee Lamb and rookie guard Tyler Booker. Hosts Marcus Mosher and Landon McCool break down the immediate and long-term impacts on both sides of the ball, discuss the shifting team outlook, and explore whether there’s any room for optimism amidst the adversity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major Injury Updates and Immediate Impacts

Timestamps: 01:16 – 08:33

• CeeDee Lamb’s High Ankle Sprain

  • Out for at least 2 games; possibly 2–4 weeks (“He was seen in a walking boot and on a scooter during Monday’s open session with the media. Not great news.” – Landon McCool, 01:39)
  • Team debating whether to place him on IR.
  • Passing attack dramatically changes without him:
    • Air yards per attempt plummeted from 32% of attempts targeting 15+ yards downfield to 7.5% after Lamb left vs. Bears.
    • Offense "p ndered in the second half, specifically when they had to throw the ball and Chicago knew they had to throw the ball, so it was a tough loss." (Marcus Mosher, 02:44)
  • Caution urged—don’t rush Lam b back:
    • “It’s better off just to give him the four weeks to get ready and then kind of evaluate…” (Landon McCool, 04:07)

• Opportunity for George Pickens

  • “This is a huge opportunity for him to show… that he can carry the offense.” (Landon McCool, 05:18)
  • Hosts note Pickens’ performance was mixed, but this stretch is pivotal in evaluating his future with the team.

• Offensive Line Devastated

  • Tyler Booker (rookie RG): Out 4–6 weeks with a high ankle sprain
    • Severity is unusual for OL, who often return quicker.
    • Already missing Cooper Bibi (starting LG) 6–8 weeks (lower leg injury).
    • Depth tested, as Rob Jones (swing guard) is gone for the season (neck).
    • “You’re already without two of those three guys [interior starters] going into week four.” (Landon McCool, 07:20)
    • Booker finished the previous game while injured, showing “the kind of level of toughness that we’re talking about.” (Marcus Mosher, 07:26)
  • Positives: Run game had success early, showing young line potential.

2. Depth, Roster Construction, and Areas of Concern

Timestamps: 08:33 – 11:38

• Interior OL depth is being severely tested
  • TJ Bass (RG), Brock Hoffman (C) stepping in, but less margin for error now.
  • Injuries have also hit CB (last year) and now OL in waves, reminiscent of the 2024 DE crisis.
  • “It feels a lot like last year with the defensive end position… a whole bunch of concentration of players in one spot.” (Marcus Mosher, 09:19)
• Coaching staff must elevate redundant or green players through scheme and support
• Necessity for optimism amidst struggle leads into next segment

3. Searching for Long-Term Optimism

Timestamps: 11:38 – 16:54

• Run game and OL development stand out
  • “When you look specifically at this young offensive line… the ability to be able to run the football and the schemes that’s been installed… the Cowboys have something there.” (Marcus Mosher, 11:59)
  • Despite being forced off-script due to defensive collapse, run game showed life in first half vs. Bears.
• Future team build and philosophy
  • Cowboys may be lining up for a significant team reset – “As they rebuild the defense, even if Dak’s prime starts to fade… you will have like a run game and then as you build the defense, a run game and defense combo…” (Marcus Mosher, 14:10)
  • “At least you’re on a timeline where your team makes sense.” (Marcus Mosher, 15:23)
• Prediction on 2025 season outcome
  • “If I had to ask you how many games you… think they win, what would you say right now going into week four?” (Landon McCool, 15:33)
  • “It’s hard to project anything less than a couple games under .500 at this point.” (Marcus Mosher, 15:52)
  • Both anticipate a 6–7 win season, but see long-term benefit to a rough year that enables bolder rebuild (“For the long term future, going 6 and 11 is what you want to see.” – Landon McCool, 17:43)

4. Leaning into Youth and a Transition Year

Timestamps: 16:54 – 21:06

• Shift from veteran placeholders to youth movement

  • Expect to “lean into playing not less talented but less reliable players that need to learn on the NFL dime.” (Marcus Mosher, 17:46)
  • Specific calls for more snaps for Wanye Thomas (S), Marist Liufau, and less for veterans like Kenneth Murray, Jack Sanborn, Donovan Wilson, and even rotating CBs like Trevon Diggs if not fully healthy.
    • “Let’s play Liufau out there and then Overshown will be back… let’s get him on the field.” (Marcus Mosher, 18:44)
    • “Some of the older pieces that are frankly not playing well, like, what are we doing?” (Marcus Mosher, 20:40)
  • Suggestion that struggling vets will cede time to prospects for on-field development.

• Anticipate heavy lineup and succession changes

  • “Maybe we see Nate Thomas at right tackle instead of Terence Steele and they try to work a succession plan that way.” (Landon McCool, 21:06)

5. Why Has the Defense Fallen So Far, So Fast?

Timestamps: 23:50 – 29:13

• Personnel loss and scheme transitions at the root

  • Eberflus’ new zone-heavy scheme requires cohesion and familiarity; current roster is a patchwork of “his guys” and older holdovers.
  • “When you watch the tape, there are guys running open in zones and no one’s reacting to it… and it feels like guys like Murray are just not comfortable in the defense.” (Marcus Mosher, 24:34)
  • Communication breakdowns, schematic misalignment—e.g., Diggs in zone while others in man.
  • Bad luck: Injuries to key players (e.g., Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, DeMarvion Overshown, Sam Williams).
  • “A lot of bad luck, but also bad drafting… all of these little things add up to being a really bad defense.” (Landon McCool, 27:41)

• Questionable personnel decisions compound problems

  • Letting solid values like Dorance Armstrong walk, then spending assets to backfill with lesser results (Martian Neyland).
  • Drafting defensive tackles and edge rushers who don’t contribute.
  • The Micah Parsons trade, while controversial, exposed the lack of high-end defensive playmaking and pass rushers.
    • “You trade away the most talented… defensive player that you’ve got… you’re hoping to backfill things and maybe you’ve fixed the run defense in some ways but… everyone knows pass defense is more valuable.” (Marcus Mosher, 28:20)

• Long-term hope: hit on draft picks, let young players emerge

  • “Hoping that a couple guys pop this year… we’ll fill through the draft and free agency in the next couple years.” (Landon McCool, 29:13)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “The smart thing to do is probably to, you know, err on the side of caution and be careful with [CeeDee Lamb] and give him more time than he really needs.” – Marcus Mosher, 04:32
• “It feels a lot like last year with the defensive end position… and it really sunk your chances pretty early on. I’m hopeful it’s not going to be like that this season.” – Marcus Mosher, 09:19
• “I actually think for the long term future of this team, going 6 and 11 is what you want to see.” – Landon McCool, 17:43
• “[The defense] just feels like it’s a combination of just a lack of talent, guys who aren’t even… well versed in the defense, and then… all you’re playing is cover two and cover three… [while] teams like Ben Johnson’s [Lions] have boutique coverage beaters.” – Marcus Mosher, 24:34

Segment Guide / Timestamps

• 01:16 – Cowboys’ injuries: Lamb and Booker
• 05:14 – Opportunity for Pickens, outlook without Lamb
• 06:36 – Booker’s injury, offensive line depth in crisis
• 08:33 – The aggregated impact of injuries, testing depth
• 11:38 – Run game, offensive positives, and rebuild philosophy
• 15:33 – Predicting season record and arguing for youth movement
• 18:15 – Calls for more snaps for young players (Liufau, Thomas, Overshown)
• 21:06 – Anticipating more rotational/succession changes, specifically on OL
• 23:50 – Deep dive: Why has the defense regressed?
• 27:41 – Bad luck and bad draft decisions on defense
• 29:13 – Hope lies in youth, the draft, and a long-term rebuild

Tone & Style

The episode is frank, somber, and reflective, with an undercurrent of “realism” about the state of the team. Both Marcus and Landon are unflinching in addressing negative trends but manage to highlight developmental bright spots and take a pragmatic view of how a down year might ultimately benefit the long-term outlook for Dallas.