Talkin’ Cowboys: Wrong Cards Played, Time to Trade

Episode Date: November 4, 2025
Podcast: Talkin’ Cowboys (Dallas Cowboys)
Hosts: Kyle Yeomans, Patrick “No C” Walker, Cody, Travis, Isaiah Stanback, Josh Rodriguez
Location: The Star, Frisco, Texas

Episode Overview

Following a demoralizing 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals—dropping the Cowboys to 3-5-1—the Talkin’ Cowboys crew delivers a candid, at times exasperated, breakdown of everything that’s gone wrong with the team. With the trade deadline hours away and the playoff window closing, the squad dives into what failed on both sides of the ball, the Cowboys’ trade for linebacker Logan Wilson, what’s next for the struggling offensive line, and whether the front office will make further moves. The frustration is palpable, but so is a relentless honesty about the team’s issues and future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Loss to the Cardinals: How Did it Happen?

(00:58 – 07:01)

• The panel expresses shock and disappointment over losing to a 2-5 Cardinals team in “salty,” mistake-ridden fashion.
• Major issues identified:
  • Offensive struggles: Just one offensive TD, not scoring until midway through the fourth quarter, failing on third downs, and lacking ball security.
  • Playoff odds sink: Cody reports playoff chances dropping to 10% after this loss.
    • Quote (03:56, Cody): “So if you’re a Cowboys fan right now and you were considering some vacation time in January … odds are you’re perfectly fine.”
  • Defensive collapse: The defense was dissected by a struggling Arizona offense that “looked very Tom Brady-ish” (05:01, Cody), and the panel admits they now expect defensive struggles weekly.

2. Full Team Accountability (Offense and Defense)

(07:01 – 12:46)

• Isaiah Stanback details failures at every level:
  • Running game: Javonte Williams ran hard but only got 15 carries despite effectiveness, highlighting questionable play-calling.
    • Quote (07:44, Travis): “Javonte Williams did well with what he was given, yet he only had 15 carries. So you did not stick to the run, even though it was effective.”
  • O-line and Dak: Terrence Steele, Guyton, Booker all allowed relentless pressure (19 on 39 dropbacks). Dak didn’t help, taking too deep of drops, worsening the task for his o-line.
  • Tight ends and receivers: Jake Ferguson had a poor showing with drops. CeeDee Lamb’s “loafs” (half-speed routes) drew criticism.
    • Quote (09:12, Travis): “CeeDee didn’t give the best effort yesterday. … A lot of what I would consider to be loafs … This is not just speaking to him; I’m just going position by position here.”
  • Defensive tactics: Using five down linemen with only one linebacker resulted in edge players like James Houston and Sam Williams dropping into coverage—roles they aren’t built for. Safeties, such as Marquis Bell, were exposed in assignments out of their skill set.
    • Quote (10:34, Travis): “These are Dan Quinn players you’re asking to play man-to-man. These are strong safeties. Strong safeties can’t play man … That’s not their position.”
  • DBs: Duron Bland and others struggled; the defense often played far too soft, leaving easy completions.

3. Bright Spots Amidst the Gloom

(14:30 – 17:30)

• Individual props to:
  • Donovan Ezra (rookie DT): Showing development; sack was a product of improved technique in a five-man front.
  • Davian Clowney: “Played lights out … a madman” (15:31, Travis), looked like he secured his job after finally getting starter reps.
  • Front seven overall: Pass rush and several DL/edge performers noted as a rare positive, but frustration reigns as those improvements were negated by failures elsewhere.
    • Analogy (17:46, Kyle): Comparing the Cowboys to a Christmas tree with broken lights—fix one area and another fails.

4. Offensive Line Woes & The “Chemistry” Debate

(25:56 – 34:45)

• The panel debates whether to shake up the o-line:
  • Terrence Steele’s Struggles: Continues to “have a terrible game” (26:47, Patrick). Calls grow to consider Nate Thomas at right tackle.
  • Continuity vs. Change: Mixed feelings—some argue the starting five need more time together; others are nearing their limit with consistently poor performances.
    • Quote (34:41, Kyle): “I've always been one to say Terrence Steele’s been doing fine work over there … but the more I've seen him struggle this year and the more I've seen Nate Thomas come in and fill in admirably … I still want to see more of it, but I don't necessarily want to switch it all up. So I'm kind of in like a no man's land purgatory type thing.”

5. Trade Deadline: Logan Wilson Addition & LB Position Analysis

(41:08 – 52:05)

• Trade details: Cowboys acquire Logan Wilson (LB, Bengals) for a 2026 7th-rounder.
• Wilson’s Profile:
  • Sideline-to-sideline player, was “first-team All-Mountain West, over 500 tackles” in Cincinnati.
  • Kyle: “Plays downhill. Good tackler. … But if you’re thinking he’s the fix to the defense, he’s absolutely not.” (41:35)
  • Patrick: “It’s a definite upgrade at the position.” (42:32)
• Roster & scheme fit skepticism: The panel doubts whether Wilson brings a significantly new trait—his coverage peaked in 2022 but otherwise average. Isaiah and Cody believe this signals a churn at the position after the year, with many LBs likely moving on.
• Front seven focus still needed: Collective agreement that the true need remains a D-line difference-maker who can “stop offensive linemen from getting up to the second level.” (49:41, Travis)
  • Quote (49:41, Travis): “Get somebody in the middle … one person could improve a lot of other people … You needed a dog in the middle.”

6. Are More Trades Coming? What’s the Front Office Mindset?

(52:05 – 54:35)

• The hosts believe the front office’s deadline approach is now less aggressive, given the record and playoff odds.
  • Quote (53:04, Travis): “I think last night’s loss has an impact on the aggressiveness of the front office. … Now I think that you’re like, ah, let’s hold our pitch.”
  • Jerry Jones cited as saying he won’t “hamstring the organization” by mortgaging the future, though “I don’t have time to have a bad time.”
• Recognized shift: Earlier in the season, the idea was to not waste an “elite offense” while fixing the defense. Now, with offense also faltering, urgency has evaporated.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On missed expectations:
  “They aren’t who we thought they were.” — Patrick (06:36) [paraphrasing Dennis Green]

• On accountability:
  “This is not one person, and I went through that whole spiel because I wanted everybody to get the smoke because everybody’s responsible for the smoke.” — Travis (11:15)

• On organizational frustration:
  “Stop being an A hole to your B hole.” — Travis (23:00) [humorous product tie-in]

• On front office caution:
  “Please don’t touch those first round picks though. … Hold them like your children, please.” — Patrick (52:47)

Timestamps: Important Segments

• 00:58–03:20: Setting the scene – Recap loss, mood, playoff picture.
• 07:01–12:46: Player-by-player accountability, both sides of the ball.
• 14:30–17:30: Bright spots (Ezra, Clowney), front seven effort.
• 25:56–34:45: O-line chemistry, Steele vs. Thomas, continuity debate.
• 41:08–52:05: Logan Wilson trade breakdown, linebacker room analysis.
• 52:05–54:35: Deadline forecasting, Jerry Jones’ comments, team direction.

Tone & Final Thoughts

Brutally honest, exasperated, sarcasm-laced, but fair. The crew drills home the point that Dallas’ problems are team-wide—scheme, effort, talent, and coaching. While the Wilson trade draws a lukewarm response (“fine for a seventh, but not a fix”), the need for a D-line difference-maker is universally acknowledged. Hopes for deadline magic are muted; the focus is beginning to shift toward future building as playoff realities become stark.

For further in-depth fan reactions or to join the next show (“On the Wire Wednesday”), listeners are encouraged to call in tomorrow.