Talkin’ Cowboys: How Are the Cowboys Built Different?

Summary

Talkin’ Cowboys: How Are the Cowboys Built Different?

Podcast: Talkin’ Cowboys
Date: June 9, 2026
Hosts: Kyle Youmans, Isaiah Stanback, Josh Rodriguez (Patrick Walker out for this episode)

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Episode Overview

This OTA edition of Talkin’ Cowboys dives into how the 2026 Dallas Cowboys are being rebuilt with an emphasis on size, physicality, and communication. The crew discusses notable changes at OTAs, impactful rookie personalities, defensive and offensive transformations, and answers fan questions about cornerback battles and the edge rusher situation. Later, the hosts play a fun Cowboys-centric “Perfect Team” game drawing from different eras of team history.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. OTA Updates and Team Building Philosophy

• Transition from OTAs to Mandatory Minicamp: The Cowboys are wrapping up OTAs with mandatory minicamp next week.
• Size and Measurables: Both lines are visibly bigger this year, reflecting a deliberate front-office effort to raise measurables standards.
  • "There was one time over the past few weeks where I just happened to see Tyler Smith out there working out…He looks like a large human being right now." — Isaiah Stanback [04:12]
  • "That measurables line, above the line you’re in the running… In 2026, it’s probably right there and it’s a little bit higher." — Kyle Yeomans [07:29]
• Culture Change Evidence: Size increases and a new focus on communication, conditioning and nutrition signal a tangible shift in team culture, not just offseason hype.
  • "When you see the players and you understand that the nutrition and the strength and conditioning program are lining up… it’s tantalizing." — Isaiah Stanback [09:11]

2. Left Tackle Competition & Offensive Rosters

• Tyler Guyton vs. Tyler Smith: Left tackle is an open battle. Tyler Smith’s increased size may nudge him toward guard, but versatility remains a theme.
• Roster “Type”: The Cowboys are emulating physical traits similar to Harbaugh-led teams (like the Ravens), focusing on large, physical lines.

3. Defensive Overhaul Under Christian Parker

• Defense Matching Offensive Mentality: A new, hungry defensive culture is emerging, emphasizing detail and communication.
  • "The attention to detail of that defense, the communication is at a higher level than we’ve seen in the past." — Josh Rodriguez [13:08]
  • "It’s different. Communicating with somebody in the general public versus communicating with your family… that’s communication they’re working on now." — Isaiah Stanback [15:05]
• Joint Practices Announced: At least two joint practices scheduled for camp — Rams and Saints — will serve as a benchmark for progress. [16:21]

4. Rookie Impressions & Team Leadership

• Rookie Standouts: Jayson Barham and Caleb Downs stood out physically; Downs is already demonstrating leadership.
  • "Caleb Downs got a pretty good indication… what it means to be a superstar with the Cowboys." — Kyle Yeomans [24:17]
• Behind the Scenes Stories:
  • Caleb Downs: Displayed competitiveness and willingness to embrace spotlight during rookie event. [25:28]
  • Drew Shelton: Embraced the challenge of facing top NFL pass rushers. [26:50]
  • Anthony Smith: Declared himself the fastest in the WR room and said Caleb Downs was even faster, showing bravado and confidence. [29:40]

5. Listener Q&A Highlights

• Cornerback Room Uncertainty ([31:01]):
  • Brian in Kansas City asks about starters: Bland, Durant, and Rebel are in the mix. Kaylin Carson is having a notable offseason, but training camp is crucial.
• Defensive Green Dot Question:
  • Communicator/green dot likely to go to the starting middle linebacker — but that spot isn’t settled yet.
• Edge Rusher/Depth Concerns ([36:45]):
  • Arthur from Texas raises Clowney as depth; hosts argue there’s good depth but the lack of a “blue chip” pass rusher is glaring. Rashan Gary, Malachi Lawrence add upside, but there’s no clear 3rd down “game-wrecker.”
    • "You’re missing the top end guy. I don’t think they’re necessarily lacking in depth... you’re missing a DeMarcus Ware" — Kyle Yeomans [39:33]
    • "There’s not a guy right now on this roster that, on third down, your eyes go to and you watch them." — Isaiah Stanback [40:41]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Usually we can only say it feels different around here... This year, there's evidence to show that things are different.” — Isaiah Stanback [10:07]
• "The fact that you have offensive players saying this is annoying... that's indicative of a big change in what you see from Dallas's defense." — Josh Rodriguez on Christian Parker's scheme [13:08]
• "When you have non-verbal communication on a football field... that's when you're that much better of an operation." — Isaiah Stanback [15:05]
• "There’s not a guy right now on this roster that, on third down, your eyes go to and you watch them." — Isaiah Stanback on edge rush [40:41]
• "People are going to be surprised by what Malachi Lawrence will do in 2026 as a rookie." — Kyle Yeomans [41:50]

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Important Timestamps

• OTAs & Mini-Camp Update — [01:39–03:05]
• Tyler Guyton/Smith & O-line Size — [03:23–08:36]
• Defensive Transformation & Communication — [09:11–16:21]
• Joint Practices News — [15:59–16:46]
• Rookie Impressions & Event Stories — [22:58–27:08]
• Fun with WR Room Speed Claims — [29:00–30:53]
• Caller Brian (CB/Green Dot) — [31:01–35:03]
• Caller Arthur (Edge Rush/Clowney) — [35:13–41:50]
• Malachi Lawrence “Clip This” Prediction — [41:50]
• Perfect Team Game — Cowboys Edition — [48:18–57:44]

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Cowboys “Perfect Team” Game Highlights

The crew builds a Cowboys “super-team” using a random decade for each position. Fun banter choosing stars like CeeDee Lamb, Drew Pearson, Herschel Walker, Ezekiel Elliott, DeMarcus Ware, Tom Landry, and Troy Aikman.

• Simulated record: 17-3 (with a comment that their ceiling would be “20-0”)
• "17-3... that's an A for sure." — Josh Rodriguez [57:05]

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Tone & Banter

The show maintains its familiar, fun barbershop-in-the-film-room energy, full of good-natured ribbing (e.g., on rookie confidence), inside jokes (the “best shape of their life” trope), and a balance of critical analysis and encouragement for the Cowboys’ direction. The hosts are clearly excited by what they're observing at OTAs, but remain honest about remaining question marks.

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Conclusion

This episode gives Cowboys Nation an authentic look into the team's size-focused overhaul, increasing defensive communication, growth in the rookie class, and a team culture that feels genuinely refreshed. Although there is cautious optimism, the hosts are clear about not overselling “hopeium,” maintaining a realistic view of roster gaps and battles to watch at minicamp and training camp.

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For full details, catch the episode or follow along as the hosts return next week for more OTA and Minicamp breakdowns!

Transcript

[Tab Ramos]

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[Isaiah Stanback]

the

[Kyle Yeomans]

following is a production of Dallas Cowboys.com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. How about them Cowboys? Go Cowboys. This is Talking Cowboys streaming live from the Dallas Cowboys world headquarters at the Star in Frisco cd. And now your hosts, isaiah stanback, patrick walker, josh rodriguez and kyle yeomans. It's an OTA edition of Talking Cowboys presented by Black Rifle Coffee Company live from the Star in Frisco, Texas and the SWBC studio. Welcome in everybody. We've got Josh Rodriguez, Isaiah, stand back. Chris Beam in the back. I'm Kyle Yeoman. So glad you're with us. OTAs are in full swing. Final week of OTAs that's optional.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Oh, got you.

[Kyle Yeomans]

But then next week it's not so optional.

[Josh Rodriguez]

No, mandatory if you will.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Mandatory minicamp next now. So we're gonna talk some OTAs. We've got plenty of conversations to be had. We, we heard a lot from Brian Schottenheimer, a lot from the locker room last week. We got our first look of the 2026 Dallas Cowboys on the media portion. And then we're also, we're, we're going to look ahead to the OTAs that we will have today with some media availability. And then we're also going to play a little game on this show.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Game.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I love games.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Are we playing musical chairs? Cuz that's not Pat.

[Kyle Yeomans]

That's not Patrick. No, that is. That is Josh. Patrick's out today. He's got a family emergency.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Mistake us all the time.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Well wishes we're brothers. That's true. Well wishes to Pat and he'll be back next week very, very quickly. Love our guy Pat. Now we will play a game a little bit later on. I've got these cups to represent. We're going to play. It's been a craze on social media lately. It's called Perfect team or 20 or 82. And oh, for the basketball version and the NHL version, there's a College football version. That's 15 and, oh, we're going to play our Cowboys version of that and we're going to simulate how we do in that different type of simulator. I sent it in the group message for everybody. And Isaiah wore his Emmett Smith shirt today.

[Isaiah Stanback]

That's right. So that way I'm not tipping the hat at all.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Very apropos for the segment that we have.

[Kyle Yeomans]

If we don't get running back or flex in the 1990s, we are so done. We're screwed, bro. Yeah, it's over, but let's get into some news and notes today. No Patrick to give those news and notes. But, Josh, you and I talked about it last week. OTAs underway and we got to hear from Brian Schottenheimer last week, too.

[Josh Rodriguez]

We certainly did. I mean, a big part of that is there's a lot of news that came out of that press conference, mainly, at least for me. The headliner was talking about Tyler Guyton and how left tackle is now a battle between. Yes. A battle at left tackle. I'm really, really.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Spark of fire, would you say? A little walk of flock of flame.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I think, if anything, it's very indicative of what they've seen from Tyler Guyton so far, and not necessarily in a bad way. It's just I think that they want to see more hunger from him to solidify that position.

[Isaiah Stanback]

You know where people have heard that first?

[Josh Rodriguez]

Where?

[Isaiah Stanback]

Right here on this show. Talked about it all season long.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I mean, just last week I was talking about Tyler Smith and. And looking a little leaner and maybe willing to fill in on that left tackle spot. Not willing necessarily, but, you know, if the. The call is there, he'll. He might make it.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I know we don't talk about what we see around this building too often. Is you. We have a lot of. Lot of handcuffs in terms of what we can and can't do. But there was one time over the past few weeks where I just happened to see a young strapping gentleman by the name of Tyler Smith out there working out.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yes.

[Isaiah Stanback]

And he looks like a large human being right now.

[Josh Rodriguez]

He is quite large.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Tell me more.

[Isaiah Stanback]

He's a large human, bro. He was out there. As well as our new defensive tackle, the veteran. I can't remember his name right off the top. Apologize on that. Getting calibrated.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Bullard. Bullard.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Those guys are large people. And I know. All right, Sorry. I'm seeing bees now. Just faintly.

[Josh Rodriguez]

You're like Nicholas Cage and the Wicker Man.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I know.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I'm not tripping. Something was Flying? Not really.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Anyways, I saw both of those humans out there on the field working out and I know we had a long discussion about kind of the direction and the personnel differences, especially specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Talking about the defensive front, I'm not sure that fans understand the size difference that they are going to see out of this defensive front in particular. And then on the flip side, seeing Tyler Smith, I haven't seen the rest of the guys, but seeing Tyler Smith gave me a good little indication as to the direction of the offensive line as well. So we've done a lot preseason, regular season, all this stuff, and we talk about the hardballs and the hardballs, how they have a type in terms of their offensive and defensive fronts. We understand what it was. When you play Baltimore, we're like, oh, crap, okay, we got some really good players, but these dudes are freaking gigantic. Right? Same thing with the Chargers. Right.

[Kyle Yeomans]

They're just very tall.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I got Harbaugh vibes. I don't want to say that in affiliation with the Cowboys, but I got Harbaugh vibes in terms of the size of these guys. When I saw these gentlemen walking around and doing their workouts outside, I was like, these guys, Tyler Smith was already big. He's bigger.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yeah, right.

[Isaiah Stanback]

And then the defensive line looks like they're going to be gargantuan.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Well, I mean, even talking about your free agency pickups, of course, I mean, Tyler Guyn was already large to begin with. You have Tyler Smith, who's getting bigger now. Yeah, but the guys that you picked up a bona is a really big dude. Bullard is a really big dude. You're seeing shift now as far as like the. The traits and like the measurables that they're looking at now because they have to go against, you know, teams like the Chargers this year.

[Kyle Yeomans]

You know, in talking with the staff and what they're trying to accomplish by rebuilding a roster with a new defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator in second year, you know, Brian Schottenheimer as a play caller second year. They have a line. It's a measurables line. We talked about this a little bit on the draft show, but I haven't. I don't think we've talked about it in depth here. That measurables line, above the line. You're in the running to be a player of interest to be on the roster. If you're below that measurables line doesn't mean you can't be on the roster. But you better do something extraordinary. You better do something that a lot of the term that I've heard floated around their. Their side of the building is walk on water. You better walk on water in some element, whether it's speed or strength or technique, whatever it may be.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Brain works, perhaps?

[Kyle Yeomans]

Brain works, absolutely. You better walk on water if you're below the line. The line that we're talking about from 2025 was probably here. From 2026, it's probably right there and it's a little bit higher.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Because I think Christian Parker wants it that way. I think Brian Schottenheimer wants to get bigger. I think the entire team can utilize from a little bit more of. They've got the team speed element now. I think that they lacked in the past. They saw that a little bit in 2025. Now you've got the size element to kind of pair with the speed, and then you can kind of keep up in both regards. But Isaiah, I'm glad you brought up the Tyler Smith conversation, because I mentioned this last week in the show. I said, guys, he. Actions speak louder than words. Of course. He doesn't want to be a tackle. He doesn't want to play out tackle. Does he look like a tackle or does he look like a guard?

[Isaiah Stanback]

He looks like a ginormous guard.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Okay. You don't think he looks like a

[Isaiah Stanback]

tackle at this rate? Okay. And again, I have not seen the other offensive lineman we know. Tyler. Tyler Guyden is a. Is a taller gentleman. Okay. Right. Young, strapping young man. Tyler Smith is a gargantuan. At this point.

[Josh Rodriguez]

We know Nate Thomas as well. I mean, let's not disregard Nate Thomas either.

[Caller/Guest]

Not at all.

[Kyle Yeomans]

We know he's in that competition.

[Isaiah Stanback]

We know that T still is a large human being. Cooper BB Is gonna look like a. Like a minion in comparison to these guys.

[Josh Rodriguez]

He's a shorter guy.

[Isaiah Stanback]

He's a shorter guy.

[Josh Rodriguez]

He's a wide comparison.

[Isaiah Stanback]

He's a wide body, but he's gonna look like a little. Like a little minion in comparison to these other guys. Just. And he's not a small person. I'm. I'm saying that it just in comparison. Like, if that was any indication of how big this. This offensive line and defensive line is going to be, like, this is going to be a lot more physical in the trenches team. And to your point, it's one thing to hear the.

[Kyle Yeomans]

The.

[Isaiah Stanback]

The quotes and. And. And hear everybody kind of talking about the direction that they're going. We hear it every single summer. Right. It kind of gets good and bland. But when you see the impact of what the coaches have stated. When you see the players and you understand that the nutrition and the strength and conditioning program are lining up with those exact words that those coaches have mentioned to us in the media and you see it play out in the form of these human beings. It's. It's tantalizing it.

[Josh Rodriguez]

That is a perfect word for it. I, I don't want to say that like the game has changed. The Cowboys are moving different in every possible way because there are still some positions out there that have some question marks. Obviously, we've talked about them at length, but I feel like going into this off season, this offseason, program, OTAs, training camp, all of that, I. You have to feel like things are different. Yeah, things are certainly different.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Yeah.

[Josh Rodriguez]

They haven't been moving this way in a really long time especially.

[Isaiah Stanback]

But usually we can only say it feels different around here. No, in our, in our, in our, in our, in our family, there's evidence

[Josh Rodriguez]

to show that things are different.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yes.

[Isaiah Stanback]

But usually they just have to, you know, they just had the revert to. Okay, we believe our talking Cowboys fam right now. We're telling you, we're. We're seeing the physical difference.

[Caller/Guest]

Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Just to play devil's advocate, do it, please.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Love to do it.

[Kyle Yeomans]

What do you say to the people that in the. The thought process here or that are listening on our audio post post show that aren't able to contribute that say, ah, it's just best shape of their life season. That's all it is. They're in the best shape of their life. It's the cliche that you hear every year. It's all it is. Oh, best, best of your life. It happens and it's going to happen for certain players in certain years. This year it might be Tyler Smith. He's in the best shape of his life. Got it. Sounds good. Great. Does that result in winning all the time? Because just because the Cowboys are in the best shape of their life doesn't mean there are 31 other teams.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Listen, we, we talk about. We can only project. Okay. We can't say for sure. Right. We're not those guys playing and they'll. Even the guys playing can't say for sure. But what we can communicate to our family is what is stated in the news, what is stated in the media, what we physically see from these guys and it's all matching up in years past. We can go off what was stated and then we can say, well, it feels like it's going to be different this Year feeling isn't something tangible.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Right.

[Isaiah Stanback]

For.

[Ryan Seacrest (Ad)]

For most.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Right. Not only does it feel like it's going to be different, we're hearing the terminology from especially the defensive side of things. We're seeing the regime change on the defensive side, going to younger coaches that can communicate and. And convey their messaging to the players. We're seeing that in real time. We're seeing these relationships build. We're seeing the continuity of the players. We're seeing the rookie class. Kyle and I had opportunity to do the rookie premiere last week.

[Kyle Yeomans]

They were awesome.

[Isaiah Stanback]

We're seeing how the maturity level and the type of character that they're there, they're bringing into this program. We're seeing all these things we're not hoping, we're not wishing, we're not feeling. We're. We're witnessing it after hearing what the leadership in this organization has stated, we're seeing it trickle all the way down. And now we're actually seeing those things embodied in the players, both from the character standpoint, both from the continuity. Right. And the family. We hear the word family a lot. We're seeing that continuity and then we're seeing the physical ailment in terms of the nutrition and the. And the offseason strength and conditioner program. So, yes, Kyle, this is supposed to be the best shape of your. Of your year. I don't know about. Of your life. It's supposed to be the best that you always feel going into the year. That is always true. So I'm not. They're not wrong by saying that. But what we're saying is what has been stated is being backed up by actual actionable items that we're able to sit here and tell you that we've witnessed that the fans necessarily have not seen yet.

[Josh Rodriguez]

And I think it starts with the defense. I think the overhaul of the defense. It feels like they've kind of caught up to the mentality that the offensive. Yes. That the offensive side of the ball had going into last season. And now that the defense is sort of on that same level. Are you. I mean, we're not seeing on the field obviously yet, but the mentality is there. And even you like expectations. Quinn Williams and Kenny Clark, your two veterans on defense, your leaders, are talking about how Christian Parker's attention to detail is getting them where they need to be. But for me, it's like hearing the offensive players talk about Christian Parker and his defense. CD Lamb was talking about it last week saying, like it's annoying to prepare for Christian Parker's defense that to Me is indicative of a big change in what you see from Dallas's defense just overall, without looking at any game tape. The fact that you have offensive players saying this is annoying. I don't like, I don't like this. And the communication that we were seeing last week when we were out there for OTAs, that was one of the things that I was talking with Jesse Holley as we're watching OTAs breaking down, like exactly what they were doing. There were drills to like communicate safeties, cornerbacks, to like pass off on certain players. That to me was fascinating to see that in person and how well they're like the attention to detail of that defense, the communication is at a higher level than we've seen in the past. And one of the biggest problems last year with the defense was communication. They kept bringing that up. It's like we need to simplify, simplify, simplify. A very simplic. A simplified defense to begin with. So to me, that is a big part of why this is, this feels different. We haven't seen it yet. It'll be a while before we really, really, really can. But I don't know how you cannot feel positive about it.

[Isaiah Stanback]

And the cool thing, before you take a cop, communication, the emphasis on communication at this time of the year, you get that instilled now, right? The continuity, the family aspect, all those things go hand in hand. By the time you hit training cam, that's really, really what can you. When you're putting a bow tie on it, right?

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yeah, you're kind of putting a tie on it. Installs are done. You're. You're getting into the nitty gritty by

[Isaiah Stanback]

the time the season hits. Understand the emphasis now on something as simple as communication. I know people hear that word all the time, like, okay, whatever, everybody communicates. No, no, it's different. It's different. Communicating with somebody in the general public versus communicating with your family, right? You could look at your family and know exactly what they're feeling. You can look at your family or your best friends and know exactly what they're thinking. You know, you can look at each other, make eye contact and know exactly where you want to go with something without even having to use any words. That is communication that they're working on. Now it's verbal right now. It will remain verbal, but eventually it will get to the point where it was non verbal communication. And when you have non verbal communication on a football field, when there's 70,000, 80,000 people in the stands being able to look at your, at your Teammate, nod your head and know exactly what each other are thinking because you've seen it a thousand times, you've practiced it a thousand times, you verbally communicated it a thousand times. Now you're that much better of an operation on defense side of the ball.

[Kyle Yeomans]

The you. You mentioned how it's going to be a while until we get to see what that really looks like and you said a couple. Couple of weeks ago, I believe the real benchmark for these teams are they going to be the joint practices training camp. Brian Schottenheimer confirmed two joint practices at least. Remember, they've had it in the past where they've had one down on the schedule and then they schedule another one.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yep.

[Kyle Yeomans]

They have at least two. One against the Rams and one against the Saints.

[Josh Rodriguez]

So 2:1 at the Rams, correct?

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yeah, I believe so. I think that was the case. But the Saints are coming to town. They'll come to Oxnard and then the Rams will be Kelly on the there. Yeah. So a little Kellen Moore, little. Little Sean McVay collab. So those are the two joint practices that'll happen at training camp this year. So I really excited to see what that looks like.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Well, we have an idea what the offensive line is looking like when we go against the Rams.

[Josh Rodriguez]

We better because mile. Garrett. Garrett.

[Kyle Yeomans]

So we'll get to see him up close and personal in a new uniform. Yeah, that'll be fun. And maybe Aaron Donald. Let's see it happens. See what happens with him.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Kyle. I don't know about that one, man.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Just saying.

[Isaiah Stanback]

It's definitely happening. See, it's definitely happening, bro.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I don't like those words.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I don't like those words either.

[Kyle Yeomans]

But it's there one thing that will give us a little bit of an inside look on what the Cowboys have been doing this off season. Shout out to Scott Purcell and Alex Lilly because on this week's edition, it's the final episode of the Blitz. This off season, we're going to have one on one. Mic'd up with Christian Parker through training camp or I mean through OTA practices. So. And there's portions of it where he's working one on one with Caleb Downs. And I've already seen a little bit of this footage. It is really a must see blitz. It's loaded.

[Josh Rodriguez]

It's the last blitz.

[Kyle Yeomans]

It is the last one. The conversation we were having with our producers yesterday, he was like, yeah, we need about two and a half minutes of film. And then we got through about two and a half minutes. We're like this is all really good. We need all of this, so it may be a little more than that. We'll see. But really cool stuff from the Cowboys TV crew. They'll have that on the blitz the this week when we come back. I want to actually take a couple of phone calls before we get into the game. It's our last opportunity to take phone calls because we've got many camp and OTAs to talk about next week. So let's talk to Cowboys Nation a little bit as well. 888-855-2297. We're going to take a couple phone calls. We're going to play a game when we return with more talking Cowboys right after this.

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[Isaiah Stanback]

We're united.

[Kyle Yeomans]

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[Isaiah Stanback]

I'm home. Hey mom, before you ask, I've done my homework and the dishwasher's unloaded.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Nice. Hey, can you. Hey, hon. Yes, I've got the finale ready to play.

[Tab Ramos]

Here's your wine.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Wow.

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[Kyle Yeomans]

Back to Talking Cowboys. Back here at the Star in Frisco with another edition of Talking Cowboys. How about that brand new turf outside at the the Tostitos Championship Plaza?

[Isaiah Stanback]

It's like mini fields.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Like a soccer field, Kyle.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Definitely. Yeah, they got the mini soccer fields. Preparation for the 2026 World cup coming to Dallas. Nine matches, most of stadium. Nine. Yeah. Nueva coming into town. By the way, we did have one comment. Rocky said, what up, ky? Just letting y' all know that you got fans in the Bahamas. Keep up the great work of that, guys.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I was trying to find a way to get to the Bahamas this year. Just.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Well, you got a place to stay now. Not to. Not to volunteer there.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Rock volunteer.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Gotcha. The 2026 schedule is here. Don't miss your chance to see the Cowboys live at AT&T Stadium with matchups against NFC east rivals the Eagles, the Giants, the Commanders, plus the Jaguars, the Titans, Cardinals, 49ers and Buccaneers. Limited single game tickets are available [e-mail] the official primary ticketing partner of the Dallas Cowboys. Welcome back in to Talking Cowboys presented by Black Rifle Coffee Company, the official coffee of the Dallas Cowboys. We're Going to take some phone calls here in a matter of moments. 888-855-2297. Before we get to our first phone calls on the day, what are some of the things that you did get to see in OTA last week or talk about last week? After getting the first media availability, I

[Josh Rodriguez]

was surprised because granted I haven't seen OTAs that up close before. I thought it was going to be sort of like the practice availability that we usually get, which is just, you know, kind of stretching and then like they, they shoo us off. But it was actually really in depth, a big thing that I was really intrigued with. Jayson Barham, just his size, his. He's very imposing. You know what I mean?

[Isaiah Stanback]

Yes, he is.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I was curious to know like what he said to you guys at the rookie introduction that you guys did last week. But like for me just seeing him on the field was, was impressive. Caleb down already has a command of, of his whole position group. It feels like they're kind of not necessarily coming to him for everything, but it's like it. He's a leader in that room already.

[Kyle Yeomans]

It looks like it felt like that at the rookie premiere too.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Yeah. Barham. I don't want to make any physical comparisons in terms of play, but Barham reminds me of a taller Jalen Smith. That's what his, that's what his body shape is. Right. Kind of top heavy.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Isaiah Stanback]

A lot of head and shoulders. Right. Just bulky up top. Like when he puts his pads on. It's going to.

[Josh Rodriguez]

That might be concerning to some people.

[Isaiah Stanback]

No, I know.

[Josh Rodriguez]

That's why that's measurables.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Yeah. Measureable. I'm talking about, I mean frame wise. Right. Everybody has a build, right. I mean so he's like an upside down triangle. Right. He just really wide up top. Right. You know what I'm saying? It's slender down low, but he is going to look physically imposing. All those guys were awesome.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yeah, it was really cool. And even beforehand, Caleb Downs got a pretty good indication even before the show started of what it means to be a superstar with the Cowboys. He walked up and there was a little kid in the front row, Cowboys jersey on. He had a Cowboys jersey in front of him. Caleb. Caleb. And he goes up and he signs it. Then you can start seeing all of the people, adults, everybody start coming down the stairs.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I apologize in advance.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Josh there the whole time.

[Caller/Guest]

Caleb, please.

[Kyle Yeomans]

There was just a mass of people that started to encroach upon Caleb and Caleb, I think if he was given the opportunity would have signed every single one of those.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

But we were getting ready to do the show, and he needed to go and get a mic on, and there were a bunch of things that needed to happen. So he ended up getting pulled away after signing probably 10 autographs in that split second. It was probably 30 seconds, and he signed 10 things. I saw him grab as much as he could. He probably would have signed for everybody there. So you talk about leadership, you talk about accountability and all of the things. I know that's just a very small thing, but that stood out to me in the middle of that moment. And then on the stage, they were great. It was really cool to see them all interact and have fun. We had a putting competition.

[Isaiah Stanback]

The whole Caleb was not.

[Kyle Yeomans]

The whole Q and A portion of the event, which was just a small portion of the event, is actually available on YouTube.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yes.

[Kyle Yeomans]

So you can go watch it dot com.

[Isaiah Stanback]

That was the first time they've ever done that. I was.

[Kyle Yeomans]

They posted it last year.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Did they?

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yeah, Last year was first time.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Yeah.

[Caller/Guest]

Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

They waited till Barry Church was on there and they said, let's put this. Let's put this online. Couple.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Two fun behind the scenes stories.

[Caller/Guest]

Right?

[Isaiah Stanback]

Really quick. Caleb downs. We had the putting competition put a lot of pressure on him because he said he was going to win the putting competition, and he did not. Right. Yeah, He. He shanked it. Okay. Told him to go take a quick seat because as I said, I don't know what the heck that was. You know, I'm always joking around, but you could tell that he was like, didn't like the fact. Not. Not my comments. He didn't like the fact that he missed. Right. Like. Like it bothered.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Probably hated your comment.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Probably. It's okay. But, like, you could tell that. That competitive nature. I was like, yeah, I like that. Right. Like, I like that. Right. Like, I don't care what we're playing. We could be playing Uno. Right. I'm throwing the whole thing. Like, the whole deck's getting knocked off the table. Right. If I lose. All right. Exactly. Second story, Drew Sheldon. Okay. We're talking behind the scenes, talking about. We somehow. We got on the topic of the rams. Right. I think it was a reference to the joint practice. It's talking about. We're talking about large humans. That's how we kind of talked about. And then I was talking about. We got on the topic of Miles Garrett. Then I was like, oh. I said, drew, you said, you're gonna get an opportunity to go against him and just. I threw it out There. Then I was like, okay, let me see his reaction.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Let me see.

[Isaiah Stanback]

And everybody's like, oh, you know, all the rookies. Oh, Drew.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yeah, you better get ready.

[Isaiah Stanback]

He was like, yeah, let's go. Let's go. I'm like, okay. He didn't back down from it. Now, he hasn't physically seen him yet, but. But he didn't back down from it. A lot of times you hear somebody like, oh, no, no, no, that ain't gonna be me. That's gonna be Tyler Guyner. That's gonna be. You know. He was like, yeah, I'm with it.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I'm like, okay, bring the smoke.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Okay, bring the smoke.

[Kyle Yeomans]

One of the big questions.

[Isaiah Stanback]

A little smoky, but bring the smoke.

[Kyle Yeomans]

When we were in Indianapolis, one of the big questions that I was told, and this was actually not from the Cowboys side, this is from a different team. One of the questions that they ask these rookies is they put up a picture of a guy in the NFL, like, it's CD Lamb or it's Jamar Chase or it's Justin Jefferson. Let's say they're a corner, right? And they put up a picture, and they have all these guys, and they say, you see this guy? Do you know who he is? Like, yeah, that's CD Lamb. You think you could cover him? And then they see how they react. Same kind of thing. See how they react. And most of the time, they're like, yeah, yeah. And then at the end of it, they're like, good, because that's literally your job. That is what you're brought in. In to do. You might have to cover him one week, and you might have to cover this guy another week, and then this guy another week. They take the best at that position that's opposite of them, and then put it out there, and that's what ended up happening. But, yeah, I think there's. There's. There's something to that. And you. You put that into fruition on the stage in front of everybody, which. And I. I agree with you. He didn't back down. What's the most.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Sorry, really quick. About the rookie premier? Who is the most surprising rookie that you guys talked about? Like, you didn't expect their personality. Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Oh, man. I.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Because, I mean, you've talked to them all.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yeah, probably Devin Moore. I thought he was awesome upstate on stage.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I thought he Confident guy.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Very confident. Super good.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I liked Anthony Smith a lot.

[Kyle Yeomans]

He. See. But I've known Anthony for a while, and Anthony's just. Excuse us. Great dude.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I liked him.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I'm Sorry. I covered the American Conference. There's not really a ton of people lining up to cover the American Goblin.

[Isaiah Stanback]

If people are wondering why I liked Anthony Smith, I liked his personality, was awesome. But the question was posed, who is the fastest in your room, in your position, group, or.

[Ryan Seacrest (Ad)]

And.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Or the team? And I said on the. Actually, I said on the stage as well.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Wide receiver. Correct.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Check this out a couple layers here. First thing he said, he didn't even.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Didn't even blink an eye.

[Isaiah Stanback]

He was like, caleb's the fastest on the stage.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Oh, wow.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yeah. I thought that was interesting.

[Isaiah Stanback]

That threw me for a super competitive person who knows that they're fast as known for being the fastest guy in the field. He immediately said, caleb. And I was like, did Caleb pay him off? Right. Like, it's probably wrong timing for all the conversation. But. But. But he. He said, Caleb is on the fastest on the stage. And then he went on to say that he was the fastest in his receiver room.

[Caller Brian]

Whoa.

[Isaiah Stanback]

And I ran it back and I

[Kyle Yeomans]

said, I'm sorry, you said fastest in the receiver?

[Isaiah Stanback]

Fastest in the receiver room means that you're faster. You're saying you're faster than Turpin? He was like, yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

He said, line him up.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I'm faster than Turby.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Turpy speeds said, line him up.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Say that. But. But he said he's faster than Terp.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I was about to.

[Kyle Yeomans]

And everybody was like.

[Isaiah Stanback]

He said it went out like he looked.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Fastest man in the NFL.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Faster than this guy. Faster than Terpene.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Quick as the flash.

[Kyle Yeomans]

They call me tripping time. Wide receiver dreams. I'm a yardage gold mine. Yeah. No, he.

[Isaiah Stanback]

He looked at you like. Yeah. So two things I took from that. The level of confidence you have to have in yourself to say that you're faster than arguably one of the fastest guys in the NFL. Yeah. And then the admission that even though you're faster than Turpin, per your statement, you're not as fast as Caleb.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Crazy.

[Kyle Yeomans]

A couple layers of that.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I like that.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I do, too. He ran a 4. 4. So Smith has some. Some burners. That's one thing he can do. I don't know.

[Josh Rodriguez]

That's the one. Yeah.

[Isaiah Stanback]

That they talked about.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I don't know about.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I love the confidence, but Terp is not.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Let's just say that.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I don't think so. All right, let's get to Brian in Kansas City. What up, Brian? You're on Talking Cowboys. Welcome back.

[Caller Brian]

Good morning, gentlemen.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Good morning.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Oh, radio voice. How you doing, sir?

[Caller Brian]

Hey, you know Maybe that's what they meant when they said I had a face for radio.

[Kyle Yeomans]

That's what they told me, too. So.

[Caller Brian]

Hey, always good to talk to you gentlemen. Hey. I have two questions. One of them is kind of really just an opinion because not everybody's healthy right now at this time of year. All we can see is who lines up with the first team, who lines up where, and who lines up with the one, the twos, you know, that kind of thing. You know, it's, you know, everything else is just under, you know, underwear Olympics, basically. So my question, the thing I was most interested in, can't really be answered now, but I'm curious what you guys think will happen when everybody's healthy in the corner room. Plans. Not. Obviously not out there right now. So I wanted to see if he had been out there, who was lining up with the ones. Because I was really curious between the three of them, you know, and I'm just. I'm saying Bland, Durant and Rebel.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Okay.

[Caller Brian]

So I was just really curious who was going to line up with the ones if there was a competition. Right now there isn't. The second question is everybody's been asking this all off season. Did you guys get any indication of who's going to be the communicator, who's going to be the green dot? I'll hang up and listen. It's always good to talk to you gentlemen.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yeah. I appreciate you, Brian. To two very in depth questions. Casey, like you said, not going to. Not going to be answered anytime soon. Especially. Especially the green dot. I think that's something that's going to evolve and change as we go through training camp. I would say right now, the favorite for me is your starting middle linebacker probably. And I know that is yet. Exactly on his team yet. I don't know. I think that's kind of where you're at.

[Isaiah Stanback]

A lot of rumors going. A lot of rumors.

[Josh Rodriguez]

They've been going on for months.

[Isaiah Stanback]

They have.

[Josh Rodriguez]

And as far as I check, we've already passed to June 1st, so.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Yep.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Haven't had anything happen yet.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Nothing yet.

[Kyle Yeomans]

The. The conversation about the cornerback room. He mentioned Bland, Rebel, Durant and how they would start. I. We talked about him last week. We did put a lot of pressure on him, and he was the first name out of Brian Schottenheimer's mouth last week. And then he showed it up on the practice field. Kaylin Carson's having a good summer, and I don't want to go jumping out of the cake just yet saying, hey, Kaylin, Carson's about to be the starting boundary corner for your team and he's going to be incredible. However, the smoke is there to where there's a possible fire that Kaylin Carson is finally getting, finally, finally getting things to click. And if that's the case, he could be a complete game changer in that room because then not only do you have the starting caliber players that we just mentioned, the three guys that you feel confident in as long as they're available and healthy, but you have depth there that can rotate in without really any drop off.

[Josh Rodriguez]

That is exciting to say, but you know, you're talking about starting caliber, but I don't know that Rebels quite proved that yet. Granted all of the things that we've said about him, you know, it's about seeing it on the field. Of course. Yeah. But I think all of it is there and he has a healthy offseason in order to get to that point where it's like we're talking about him in that category. But I've talked about Caleb Carson at ad nauseum last week. I really feel like he has. He really has to prove it this off season. And remember, the training camp is going to be absolutely gigantic.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Training camp is massive. But it's only one thing. Last year, who was the superstar of the cornerback room throughout training camp?

[Josh Rodriguez]

You traded for him. I'm banking on his name.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Right, Exactly. There you go.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

That was. Who was the superstar of training camp.

[Josh Rodriguez]

He was like my number one rated defensive player.

[Kyle Yeomans]

He was fantastic in training camp. And, and the, the lights turned on and it did not happen.

[Josh Rodriguez]

My goodness.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Joint practice. I knew quite okay.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Literally everyone looked bad in the joint practice. I looked bad in the joint practice. The Rams media team made me look stupid.

[Isaiah Stanback]

It was blowing.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yeah. All right, second caller, appreciate the call. Brian Arthur in spring Texas. What's going on, Arthur? Welcome to Talking Cowboys.

[Caller/Guest]

Thank you, gentlemen. Good morning to you all. I will be really brief and I'm shifting gears for just, just a moment that the big. The big question was was or one of the big questions out there was edge rusher. Do we have somebody. And I can't help but think about the number of times most recently DeMarcus Lawrence, DeMarcus Ware, where we've lit these championship caliber edge rushers go off to another team because. And according to the Cowboys viewpoint, they were getting kind of long in the twos and health issues and they go out and win a championship. I think from my perspective, I think that what Clowney brings to you is that missing piece would Connie be opposed to being used in a second man role. I really don't think he would, he would be bothered with that at all. I mean, he wouldn't have to overexert himself. He would only get X number of snaps. And I just, I'm just, I'm excited for the team like I always am every year, but I'm always kind of leery about letting quality players get away from us and they go someplace else and end up winning the championship. Just, just my thoughts on it and I appreciate it and I listen to the response.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Appreciate the call, Arthur.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah, Entirely justified. I mean, I feel like right now I think you feel okay. I think it's, it's fair. Maybe I would argue for edge rushers, but if somebody goes down, one person, you're. You are screwed. And. Sorry, I don't want to, I don't want to shock anybody. I don't want to make anybody nervous about it, but I think if one guy goes down, you're in a really, really bad spot. To me, David Clowney showed out last year. I don't know necessarily how the defensive side, the coaching, defensive coaching feels about Jadevian Clowney and how he can contribute to this defense. Obviously he did pretty well in his limited capacity last year with a full off season. I'm sure he would be good. But we were talking about how his career trajectory shows. Like he'll have a really solid season and then follow that up with one that isn't so great.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Or two.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Or two. Exactly. Yeah. So, I mean, I'd be willing to give it a shot for the right price. And maybe that's where they're kind of misaligned because he was paid quite a bit of money last year. I, I don't know that there's a free agent, you know, pass rusher out there that really gives you that, that really moves the needle for you and wanting to pay a premium price for, you know, someone to come in at this point.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I agree with you there. I don't know if I agree with the depth conversation. I actually kind of like the depth of the edge.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Tell me why.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I mean, you look at, you've got your guys on the outside. You go and add Rashawn Gary, who's kind of your, I mean, that's, that's your cornerstone Ed Dresher addition this off season, outside of, of course, Malachi Lawrence as a first round pick. So you've got those two guys that, that are kind of hopeful as newcomers that can come in and play well. They've been very Impressed with Leo Fowl and what he's done on the outside. Lt Overton can bounce inside. Outside. I have one I think Donovan Aziraku is going to be a monster and I felt that way going into his rookie year. Did not produce. I still think he's going to be really good and I think he'll fit well in this system. I think Sam Williams will fit better in this system than he has in the past. James Houston is still around. He gave you production last year even when you didn't anticipate it. Tyrus Wheat I think all of this to say what they're missing is a blue chip guy. Yes, that's what they're missing. They're missing the top end guy. I don't think they're necessarily lacking in depth. So like you said, one guy goes down and you're in a world of hurt. I don't know if it's as impactful with what they have now because I think there are guys that can fill in the role and be productive in an increased scenario. But you don't have the blue chip guy that leads the whole group. You don't have the demarcus Ware as our caller mentioned. You don't have the Michael Parsons that you've had in the past. You don't have the even DeMarcus Lawrence whenever he was in the prime of his career playing well in Dallas. You don't have that guy. You hope Rashawn Gary can get there, but that's a hope. And what do we always say or what I always say?

[Josh Rodriguez]

It's not a strategy.

[Kyle Yeomans]

It's not a strategy. So I like the depth but I don't necessarily have a ton of confidence in the game record mentality that that you kind of need from a guy

[Josh Rodriguez]

at the top of that depth chart. I don't want to jump in front of you, but really quickly that you there is no blue chip guy to go get right now.

[Kyle Yeomans]

No, you'd have to.

[Josh Rodriguez]

So you, you would have to trade for him, which I don't think they're willing to do at this point. You the reason I'm saying depth is like that's your only option right now is to find more depth and I

[Kyle Yeomans]

think you should shoddy talked about and I, I agree with you on the Genevieve and Clowny thing. What I've been told from conversations is that he, you remember that measurables line I just talked about. He's not below the line but he doesn't necessarily fit in that conversation. He's kind of a Little fit for

[Josh Rodriguez]

what they're trying to do this season on defense.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Exactly.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Scheme change and everything. He was serviceable last year. Not quite what they're looking for right now.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Doesn't mean he can't make an impact and he couldn't come back and be a veteran. Presence or discount. Sure. Yeah.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I agree that there is depth at edge.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yes.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Not edge rusher.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Okay, fair.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I think you have.

[Kyle Yeomans]

You're talking about getting after the quarterback specifically.

[Isaiah Stanback]

There's not a guy. I don't talk about what guys are capable of doing. Just talk about what I've seen from guys up to this point. There's not a guy right now on this roster that on third down your eyes go to and you watch them.

[Kyle Yeomans]

There's not.

[Isaiah Stanback]

That's the blue chip guy that you're talking about. Yeah. We're playing game this weekend.

[Kyle Yeomans]

They're hoping they can grow a couple of these guys in, of course.

[Josh Rodriguez]

But right now you're not sending help. Help for any of our. Any in particular guy.

[Isaiah Stanback]

You're blitzing.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Isaiah Stanback]

You're sending one of your guys. You have numerous guys that can come from the secondary that are headhunters.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Right.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I think you feel good about that. I think you have numerous guys at the second level that you feel good about going and getting after the quarterback in a blitzing scenario. But I don't think there's not one guy that you like. Okay, third down. All right. Third and five. Here we go. We brought the look and see. Let's watch. So and so you don't have that right now, so maybe training camp will. Will reveal that. But as we stand today, I don't. Even with the addition of Rashawn Gary, I don't. I'm not looking at Rashawn Gary as a dominant edge rusher. I think he's a solid edge. Yeah, yeah. Edge rusher. I don't think you have that yet.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I think Malachi Lawrence as a rookie will have more impact in terms of getting after the quarterback and affecting the quarterback than Donovan Ezraku did last year. And I think it might be a considerable margin. Not that Donovan Ezraku had a bad year. He was asked in a specific role to stop the run and do his thing, and he got better as the year went along. Malachi Lawrence is going to pin his ears back and I think people are going to be surprised. Cut this, cut this. Bookmark it, clip it. People are going to be surprised by what Malachi Lawrence will do in 2026 as a rookie. It's going to happen. I don't think he will. He may not be defensive rookie of the year or anything like that, but they with what they're asking him to do and his ability and athleticism and length and get off and all of that, I think fit the mold perfectly to the point where he'll rotate in and out with these other guys that I just mentioned. But he's going to be the guy that has every opportunity to take it over and be that, that guy. But he's a rookie. He's got to show it, show it first and it's going to be an adjustment process at the same time. All right, we're going to take our second break. When we come back, if you've been a fan of the perfect team game, we're going to make our Cowboys version. We're going to build a perfect team. We're going to go 20 and oh, when we come back, what decade player would you draft in our situation? And we'll outline the rules of the game next on Talking Cowboys.

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Nice. Hey, can you. Hey, hon. Yes, I've got the finale ready to play.

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[Isaiah Stanback]

Wow.

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[Kyle Yeomans]

Back to Talking Cowboys. Global superstar Ed Sheeran is coming to AT&T Stadium Saturday, October 24th as a part of the Loop tour. Listen to new songs from his recently released album Play, as well as fan favorites and some classics. Get your Tickets [e-mail] for more information. I'm starting to read the chat a little bit here and there's a lot of talk about Hopium. We're just having a debate on the position group. We're not making predictions on the season here, guys. Trust me. There's not a ton of opium going on right now.

[Josh Rodriguez]

We're not talking 20 0, are we, Kyle?

[Kyle Yeomans]

Not yet.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Let me ask you.

[Kyle Yeomans]

We will be in a moment.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Let me ask you guys this question in the chat. Please just go in the chat right now.

[Kyle Yeomans]

And they don't necessarily listen. Just make sure that it's fine.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Just, just, just type in. What would you guys like us to say about the Dallas Cowboys moving forward? How would you guys. What would you guys like us to say.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah, it's just right.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Just.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Just tell us exactly verbatim. Give us a dialog and then we will say it on the air.

[Isaiah Stanback]

How you would say it.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

The end of next week's show, which is our final show, I believe, of the off season.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yes.

[Kyle Yeomans]

We will do some predictions and you'll start to see exactly where the opium meter lies, whether it's 60, 40, 40, 60. Whatever you want to say in the chat. I'm just saying we're having a conversation on the position group. Chill out a little bit. All right, here we go. This is. You can't necessarily get mad at unless you hate the players that we take. This is 20 and. Oh, we've got seven position groups we have to fill. And it's all through the eras of the Dallas Cowboys. So starting in the 1960s up until the 2000s, there are seven. Seven different decades in which we are able to choose from. And in each of those decades, I've put together a list of 10 players that we can choose from. However, we have a randomizer that's going to tell us what position group we have to draft for and what decade we have to draft from for that specific position group. This is a game that's become very popular on social media.

[Tab Ramos]

82.

[Kyle Yeomans]

0 is one version that's for the NBA and the NHL. There's a 150 version for college football, and then there are a couple different NFL versions. My favorite is the one that is. It's on a website that's not a sponsor, but it's called 20 and. Oh, obviously, but it's perfect team is the best way to describe it. We're going to try and build a perfect team here. This is through the history of the Dallas Cowboys. And we're going to start by drawing a position group. I'm going to let Josh draw the first position group that we'll get to choose.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Wide receiver.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Wide receiver. Now you get to choose what the decade is.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I just looked in there and saw it.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Okay. Yeah, don't. Don't cheat at all. What do we got?

[Isaiah Stanback]

Twinkie twinkies.

[Kyle Yeomans]

The 2000 and twenties. You said what? The Twinkie.

[Caller/Guest]

Twinkies.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yes.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I don't like that. I don't like that at all. All right. 2020's wide receivers that you get to choose from. I feel like this is going to be easy.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah, I think we're going to just

[Kyle Yeomans]

go ahead and go for it.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Lamb.

[Kyle Yeomans]

It's cd. It's got to be cd. So there's, there's Wide receiver one.

[Josh Rodriguez]

What are we even doing?

[Kyle Yeomans]

Now? That does mean Dak Prescott won't be a part of this. So he won't be in the.

[Josh Rodriguez]

That's all right. Give me the 2000s.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Get you.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Get you. One more. I'll draw the next position group here.

[Isaiah Stanback]

50s.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Next position group is running back.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Running back.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Little running back conversation. Would you like to draw?

[Isaiah Stanback]

Sqb. Right there. Sqb. Sqb.

[Kyle Yeomans]

It's okay. It's all the same. I realized after I made all this that I actually didn't need all the cups, so.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Okay. I think we could still have a good pick. It's not the 90s is the 1980s.

[Kyle Yeomans]

1980s for running back.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Oh, easy.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Ooh, is it easy?

[Kyle Yeomans]

Is it easy? For me, it's Tony Dorset on the list. It's Tony Dorsett or Herschel Walker.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I think it's.

[Kyle Yeomans]

And Remember, this is 1980s. Torn Tony Dorset, not 1970s.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I only say that because it's a little different in my office constantly. So I'm going to go with Tony.

[Isaiah Stanback]

With Herschel.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Herschel over Tony in 80. Oh, I think. I think you're right, because if it's. If this was in the 1970s, I would take Tony Dorsett and run fair enough. But I don't. I don't. I'm going to go with 80s. Herschel.

[Isaiah Stanback]

He only does push ups, bro.

[Kyle Yeomans]

He only does push ups. All right, you choose a position, you choose the year. As I type this in, hand in a dice game. And the whole point of this game, by the way, just to give some more clarity at the end of it. There's two at the end of will simulate the season. It'll tell us what our record is, what our rating is, and then it'll give us. Give us some strengths and weaknesses of our roster and why we did this.

[Josh Rodriguez]

How about you pick Kyle?

[Kyle Yeomans]

How about I pick 1970s wide receiver? Okay, You've got Drew Pearson, Golden Richards. It's pretty much Drew Pearson. That's easy.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Drew across from CD okay, that's pretty nasty.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Put him out there now.

[Isaiah Stanback]

That's kind of nasty.

[Kyle Yeomans]

That's nasty.

[Isaiah Stanback]

All right, Nasty work.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Let's do. Did I have one fall out? No, I didn't. A little defense action.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Oh, yeah. Give me a year, huh? Give me a. Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

So right now, just to recap, running back Herschel Walker in the 1980s, wide receiver C.D. lamb in the 2000s, wide receiver Drew Pearson in the 1970s. We're looking pretty good, gentlemen. Ooh, defense in the 2000s.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Easy. Thousands.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Easy money.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Got Aaron Glenn, you got DeMarcus.

[Caller/Guest]

Okay.

[Kyle Yeomans]

There are some pretty. Yeah. Aaron Glenn, Demarcus, Warehouse.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Dub.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Dub. Roy Williams, Greg Ellis. You don't want to go with any of those guys.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I love GE, but DDub.

[Kyle Yeomans]

It's got to be DeMarcus, right? Yeah, I like it. DeMarcus Ware as your defense.

[Isaiah Stanback]

This team is.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I feel really good about.

[Isaiah Stanback]

This team is despicable.

[Kyle Yeomans]

It does help that pretty much any. Any representation of the Cowboys is going to have some level of superstar. I did run this simulation yesterday, and I got 13 and 7. My team didn't look as good as this one when it happened because a lot of it in this game that you play online is based on the draw and what you get. We've gotten lucky on the draw.

[Isaiah Stanback]

This team is undefeated. I can say that right now.

[Kyle Yeomans]

You think so? Ooh. Let's see if that's the case.

[Caller/Guest]

Oh.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Oh, sorry. This is going to be good.

[Caller/Guest]

All right.

[Kyle Yeomans]

There's only one option.

[Josh Rodriguez]

There's only one option.

[Kyle Yeomans]

1960s Tom Landry.

[Isaiah Stanback]

That's right, buddy.

[Kyle Yeomans]

As your coach, that name sounds familiar. He's pretty good, huh?

[Isaiah Stanback]

Arguably, he's pretty good whenever your voice goes up.

[Kyle Yeomans]

All right, only two more left. Go ahead.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Draw positions, man.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Draw.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Flex.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Flex.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Oh, this could be tricky.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Flex in the. You talking about that?

[Isaiah Stanback]

Yeah, out the frame. Sorry, I couldn't see it.

[Josh Rodriguez]

2010s.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Flex in the 2010s.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Guys, do we even need to.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Okay, so remember, this can be a running back, a wide receiver, or a tight end. So your options are. DeMarco Murray, Ezekiel Elliott. Dez Bryant, Amari Cooper, Jason Whitten.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Ooh, I. I was gonna say Dez Bryant, no question. But that's 2010s, not 2000s. Des.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Brian.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Right, so 2010s was where he was in his prime, though, wasn't it?

[Isaiah Stanback]

Yeah.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah, I guess that's true. All right, does Brian.

[Kyle Yeomans]

You think you would go DEZ there over. You could get prime Ezekiel Elliott.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I would go dez.

[Caller/Guest]

No.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Okay, Prime Jason. Or back in Jason Whitney, probably. You're not getting 2000s Jay Witt. Did you put them all in there?

[Josh Rodriguez]

Wait, am I.

[Isaiah Stanback]

When you say flex?

[Kyle Yeomans]

Not over yet.

[Isaiah Stanback]

When you say flex.

[Kyle Yeomans]

It's okay.

[Isaiah Stanback]

We can pick any position.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Any position that's not a quarterback.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Give me. Ooh, 210s. Give me Zach.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Well, we're not picking offensive line.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Oh, well, freaking out. You said any position.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I thought you meant skip position. This is a fantasy. There's no offensive line. I agree with you. If that were the Case. But now that's not the case.

[Caller/Guest]

Ooh.

[Isaiah Stanback]

For me, it's between. I. I honestly. And people are gonna think I'm crazy. I'm going. I'm leaning towards DeMarco Murray. Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I do think you're crazy.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I know that's crazy.

[Kyle Yeomans]

That's crazy.

[Josh Rodriguez]

That's crazy, man.

[Isaiah Stanback]

You talking about flex versatility.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I think it's DEZ for the stats alone.

[Kyle Yeomans]

See, And I would say you're loaded up at receiver.

[Isaiah Stanback]

You're loaded up at receiver right now.

[Kyle Yeomans]

You are loaded at receiver. You have Herschel Walker as your running back.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Need a running back. You need somebody who can run the ball and can.

[Josh Rodriguez]

All right, I go with Zeke then. Zeke.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I think I'm going Zeke. Zeke Prime. I mean, Prime. Zeke was unstoppable. He led the NFL in rushing not once, but twice. DeMarco Murray only did it once.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I hear you.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I just in that time span.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Intangibles at DeMarco better. But I'll rock with.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah. Those fumbles. Yeah, absolutely.

[Isaiah Stanback]

That's what coaching's for. Sir.

[Kyle Yeomans]

We have Tom Landry. He'll be fine. Exactly.

[Isaiah Stanback]

You think Tom Landry's gonna fumbles.

[Kyle Yeomans]

And oddly enough, as Murray today, how this ends up. Yeah, I didn't realize he was going to catch some strays. The 1990s was our last one to draw. We did not get the 1990s. And the quarterback position was the only position we didn't.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Oh, I mean, I wonder who we could pick.

[Kyle Yeomans]

I mean, when you've got Herschel Walker, running back, CD Lamb at wide receiver, Drew Pearson a wide receiver, Ezekiel Elliott at flex, D. Ware in the defensive side, and then Tom Landry as your coach. I think you just need a guy who's a game manager, right? Yeah.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Gonna toss it around a little bit. You know, it's a.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Sounds great.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Safe.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Jason. Gary. It's going to be Troy.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I forgot about Troy. Yeah.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Troy Aikman is our quarterback. All right, you guys ready to simulate what this looks like?

[Josh Rodriguez]

Yeah. Tell us, Kyle.

[Kyle Yeomans]

All right. It's. It's currently loading. If this doesn't go undefeated, I don't know what is.

[Josh Rodriguez]

That's a pretty great team.

[Kyle Yeomans]

The first. The first response said nice. This version is more balanced historically, but with some interesting trade offs. Let's break it down.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I don't like the sound of that.

[Kyle Yeomans]

The Input team rating 91 20. Game simulation, we went 17 and 3.

[Isaiah Stanback]

I'll take it.

[Kyle Yeomans]

It does say the ceiling is 20

[Josh Rodriguez]

and oh, but that's pretty solid.

[Kyle Yeomans]

It says 17 and 3.

[Josh Rodriguez]

That's pretty darn good.

[Kyle Yeomans]

It would go. It would go 20 and. Oh, are you kidding me? Guys, what kind of simulation?

[Isaiah Stanback]

The flex is the only one that

[Kyle Yeomans]

you want to go to. The weaknesses, no top 5 all time skill player. You're solid everywhere, but no true 95/ offensive weapon. Somebody like a Jerry Rice or a Randy Moss or LT or anything like that. Running backs are good, not dominant. Walker was an 89, Ezekiel Elliott was an 87, but not a guy like Barry Sanders or Walter Payton or Jim Brown or somebody like that. Defense is still not a full unit. I don't know what that means. It's demarcus Ware. What are we talking about here? So they, they did like it across the board. 17 wins and that'll get you in the playoffs.

[Josh Rodriguez]

That's an A for sure. Yeah, that's an A.

[Isaiah Stanback]

Good job, fellas.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Yeah, good stuff drafting everybody. But that was fun. I just, I've haven't. I've had so much fun playing that on online and just going through the simulation. I was like, let's bring it to Talking Cowboys. Let's do a little cowboy simulation.

[Josh Rodriguez]

And that's a lot to figure out too, Kyle. So kudos to you to organize our work and make it simple and explainable and try to.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Hopefully, hopefully everybody was able to follow along. But our final team ended up being Troy Aikman out of the 90s, Walker out of the 80s, CD Lamb out of the 2000s, Drew Pearson, 1970s, Ezekiel Elliott, 2010s DeMarcus where 2000s and then coach Tom Landry from the 1960s.

[Josh Rodriguez]

I wanted that 2000s quarterback, you know,

[Kyle Yeomans]

you know the one, you know the

[Josh Rodriguez]

one, you know the one.

[Kyle Yeomans]

War number nine? Or are you talking about Drew Bledsoe? That's gonna do it for us here on Talking Cowboys. Hope you had some fun with us. We will be back next week to break down more OTA and the start of minicamp action as well for Josh Rodriguez. Isaiah, stand back. Chris Beam in the back. I'm Kyle Yeoman saying so long from Talking Cowboys. We'll see you next week. This has been a production of Dallas Cowboys.com and the Dallas Cowboys Football Club. I'm U.S. transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The sound of a seatbelt.

[Josh Rodriguez]

It's one of the most important sounds in our car. It means everyone is ready and everyone is safe.

[Kyle Yeomans]

The more our kids see us put

[Josh Rodriguez]

on our seatbelts, the more natural it is for them to put theirs on too. Make it a priority.

[Kyle Yeomans]

Buckle up every time. Hear the sound.

[Josh Rodriguez]

Make it a habit paid for by nhtsa.