Talkin’ Cowboys: Run the Ball (with Caution)

Podcast: Talkin’ Cowboys
Host: Dallas Cowboys
Date: October 29, 2025
Panel: Kyle Yeomans (A), Patrick "Nosey" Walker (C), Josh Rodriguez (D), Isaiah Stanback (B), Chris Beam (Producer)
Theme: Breaking down the Cowboys’ mounting safety injuries and previewing how the offense can rebound against a tough, disciplined Arizona Cardinals defense in Week 9.

Episode Overview

This Wednesday’s episode of Talkin’ Cowboys dives deep into two urgent storylines for the Dallas Cowboys:

• Safety Crisis: A rash of injuries leaves Dallas perilously thin at safety, sparking a discussion on possible emergency options and what the coaching staff can do to patch the secondary.
• Offensive Strategy vs. Arizona: With the Arizona Cardinals' disciplined, bend-but-don’t-break defense looming, the crew examines how the Cowboys’ offense can get back on track – specifically focusing on running the ball (but with caution), and how methodical, sustained drives may be the only way through.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Safety Position in Crisis (03:06–16:46)

Injuries and Depth Chart Woes

• Who’s Out? Elijah Clark, Donovan Wilson, Wanye Thomas (migraines), Malik Hooker (toe) – all sidelined.
• “So we’re missing four safeties. That’s not that bad. We still have… Actually, you know what? I take that back. We have two."
  — Isaiah Stanback (03:22)

Potential Replacements

• Marquis Bell and Ready Stewart (normally a cornerback) are the only healthy options.
• Julius Wood (practice squad) – promising but unproven.
• Zion Childress was mentioned but is primarily a cornerback.

Wanye Thomas’ Health Scare

• Recently developed severe migraines—new for him, unpredictable, and difficult to treat.
• Practicing with specialized goggles, but status is "truly 50/50 week to week."
• “You literally work your life 20 plus years... and then a migraine takes you out. The amount of frustration—like, I feel for him and I hope they can find a solution sooner than later.”
  — Isaiah Stanback (09:43)

Emotional Resonance

• Discussion around invisible injuries in sports and the frustration faced by players going through ailments that aren’t immediately visible to teammates.
  • “When you have things like that, there’s kind of judgment. We’ve all seen people who have been injured, right?...but when you have a headache, you give him the benefit of the doubt.”
    — Isaiah Stanback (07:58)
  • Patrick: Thomas is on a one-year deal, so every snap matters for his future in Dallas or elsewhere.

Free Agent Options

• Patrick highlights available free agents: Justin Simmons, Marcus Maye (not season changers, but have 'skins on the wall').
  • “If you’re depending on Julius Wood, who has zero starts and only two combined tackles... you’re in a real bad way.” — Patrick Walker (11:25)

What to Do If a FA Comes In?

• “Hot hand. If Justin Simmons comes in and he’s playing good football for you and Malik Hooker is ready...You seriously look at it from a competitive standpoint.”
  — Patrick Walker (13:56)

2. Breaking Down the Arizona Defense – ‘QB Vision’ with Isaiah (20:24–32:11)

Arizona’s Defensive Structure

• Two-high safety look; base 3–4 personnel.
• “They are bottom five in the league in terms of pass rush... but top five in split safeties. These guys play two-high shell as much as possible.”
  — Isaiah Stanback (22:00)

Strengths

• Communication: “It’s pretty to watch—guys run routes across the zones and they pass off coverage very well.” (23:02)
• Zone Coverage: Second-most zone in the NFL. They rarely allow big plays, prioritizing coverage over pass rush.
• Safety Depth: “They have a good safety—Buddha. Buddha Baker...one of the best in the game, and he went to Washington.” (24:10)
  • Not being used as aggressively near the line—good for Dallas.

Keys to Attacking Arizona

• “Run the ball. Three down linemen, two down linemen should not be able to stop your running attack.” (24:53)
• Natural running lanes in the 3–4, but linebackers play downhill and hit hard.
• Isaiah projects big games for:
  • Javonte Williams: Should be able to exploit run lanes.
  • Jake Ferguson: Will feast on underneath routes as safeties drop 20–25 yards deep.

Arizona's “Bend but Don’t Break” Identity

• Will give up short passes/pieces underneath, but “They’re pretty much saying, show us that you can have a sustained drive or kick field goals all day long.” — Isaiah Stanback (26:30)

3. How Can Dallas' Offense Rebound? (32:11–47:28)

Statistical Reality Check

• Arizona has lost 5 games by a total of 13 points, all via late scores.
  • “The five losses by a combined 13 points is tied with the 2017 San Francisco 49ers for the closest point margin in a five-game losing streak by any team in NFL history.”
    — Kyle Yeomans, quoting Nick Eatman (38:53)

What Must Dallas Do?

• “You have to establish the run here. Yes. For sure. You just have to do it. I don’t know why I’m having to say this for another week...give Javonte Williams the ball.” — Patrick Walker (30:12)

• Cardinals allow 4.2 yards per carry on the ground.

Concerns with the Running Game

• Arizona’s linebackers and Buddha Baker are physical and force fumbles.
  • “Their linebackers will hit the crap out of you.” — Isaiah Stanback (42:08)

Playcalling and Sustained Drives

• Success against Arizona will require methodical, sustained drives—‘dink and dunk’—because they do not allow explosive plays.
• Field goals will likely matter more than touchdowns.
  • “There's only so many possessions for a team that consistently does a good job of getting you off the field or letting you get down to the red zone, then you kick field goals.”
    — Isaiah Stanback (43:08)

Caution Against “Getting Cute”

• “Don’t get cute, because this is not the defense to get cute against...Hand the ball off.” — Patrick Walker (45:24)

How Many Carries?

• Roughly 30–35 carries if the Cowboys run 70 offensive plays. Short passes/screens can supplement the run game but be wary, as Arizona’s linebackers are athletic and physical.

Red Zone and Ball Security

• “This is not an interception team. This is a forced fumble type team. If you don’t protect the ball, they’ll hit you in your chest cavity and the ball will be out.” — Isaiah Stanback (39:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This defense is the only reason why those games have been close. Their offense, which we will get to tomorrow, is not the reason for the season.”
  — Isaiah Stanback (39:09)

• On Wanye Thomas’s migraines:
  “It sucks. That means from his capacity, he doesn't know how to treat them at all...I can only imagine his frustration.” — Patrick Walker/Isaiah Stanback (06:13–07:06)

• “You have to respect (Arizona). They don’t make a lot of mistakes. Defenses that are steady and consistent, those are the ones you have to worry about.”
  — Isaiah Stanback (39:31)

• “If it’s goal to go from the four, mathematically speaking, you should score. If you hand the ball off.”
  — Patrick Walker (45:43)

Important Timestamps

• Safety injury update discussion: 03:06–16:46
• Wanye Thomas migraine saga: 05:28–10:33
• Who plays safety now? (internal/free agent options): 10:41–16:46
• QB Vision: Arizona Defensive Breakdown: 20:24–32:11
• Statistical “how close the Cardinals play” segment: 38:53–39:06
• Offensive strategy (run-pass ratio, red zone lessons): 42:22–46:12

Episode Summary

This episode of Talkin’ Cowboys sets the stage for a critical Week 9 matchup: Dallas’ battered safety corps has left the team scrambling to fill holes, and the discussion turns to both short-term fixes and whether a veteran free agent might be needed.

Turning to the offense, the Cardinals bring a disciplined, physical, zone-heavy defense that does little flashy but prevents big plays and excels at forcing drives to stall in the red zone. The Cowboys’ best bet is a heavy dose of the run game, methodical ball movement, and strong ball security. Field goals, not touchdowns, may decide this one — and while Dallas has been explosive in big wins at home, breaking 30 points against Arizona’s defense will require patience, precision, and discipline.

Dallas fans: don’t expect fireworks and prepare for a tough, physical grind on both sides of the ball.

For more in-depth tactical breakdowns, discussion of possible safety free agent signings, and a preview of the Cowboys’ offensive rebound attempts, listen to the full episode of Talkin’ Cowboys.