We are going to try to get these done more often. You send me your feelings and concerns and I respond with some thoughts and words. Twenty questions can happen as often as you guys like during the season, but let’s test drive this car with an Aug. 17 version and see how it goes.
Normally, I like to start with my own thought of the day, but I will use this first one to set the mood and lead into something that is top of mind right off the bat this morning:
Give us some reasons to be positive for the season. Please. — Jungman M
I am happy you asked me that. Last night I had a chance to sit down with the All-22 for this new defense under Dan Quinn and just let the film be my guide. I have to tell you that the more I watched, the more I liked. Now, I am often accused of being an optimist and I suppose if the shoe fits, I must wear it. I know no other way than to try to be fair and see things as the team probably does to try to get a feel for their decisions. But let me be clear: This defense has injected a lot of new talent. Not all of it is top shelf stuff that will make the national media get excited like a Matt Stafford trade to the Rams, but I am telling you, we are going to see significant youth, speed and ability added this year and it might be somewhat under the radar.
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The film and the camp practices tell me that this defense has much more. On Monday night, it was continuously watching and admiring the work of Micah Parsons, Jabril Cox and Osa Odighizuwa from the rookie class. Add to that the pair of rookie corners in Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright, who both have the tools and just need development and that is five guys who will play a ton. We know Chauncey Golston is about to play a lot, too, and they all have the chance to quickly become five or six of the 11 players on the field. Imagine if two of the others are Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal — both accomplished players in the back half of the defense from Atlanta. Maybe Tank Lawrence, Randy Gregory, Trevon Diggs and Donovan Wilson are the other four players on the field. Neville Gallimore probably joins them when he is healthy. We literally just showed you a defensive group that has 13 pieces that you can feel good about. The speed, the disposition, the flying to the ball and the efforts to getting the ball loose to strip out takeaways are there for me to see. I’m not selling you on a top-5 defense, because that is unlikely right when they are all babies. But I am here for the “case for average” and you should be, too. If this defense can simply hit “league average” in the important defensive categories — and not dead last — they are good enough to be contenders on offense and as a team.
The pieces (most of them) are now on the roster and in the room. This should make anyone positive. Anyone telling you this is the same defense isn’t watching.
Bob! Halfway through training camp and the preseason and we’re getting a good feel for the talent on the roster and the injury bug has struck. In your opinion, what stands right now as the biggest glaring need for this team to shore up in the next few weeks and how do they fill it? — Brandon B
Obviously, getting everyone fit and in rhythm. The Cowboys have a very unique situation in Week 1 in that they probably play their toughest game. That will cause the likelihood of a 0-1 start and the freak out of being on a national stage, being expected to lose, and having the undivided attention of what that will do right away to people that want to call this the same old team and that Mike McCarthy will be fired soon. I believe that is all nonsense and noise and that 16 teams will start 0-1, but none will be asked to start their season in Tampa Bay against that team. This needs to be a long-haul mindset. I believe they are on schedule.
Bob, love the fixes to safety (despite everyone whining!) with Hooker and Kazee, but I’m struggling to believe DT or DB is really much better, and it may actually be worse based on what we’re seeing and Gallimore potentially hurt. Thoughts? — Andrew S
It won’t be worse — it can’t be. This team has the pieces in place and they wisely have some grunts who can fill roles on cheap veteran deals. They covered themselves nicely in March with usefulness from vets like Brent Urban and Carlos Watkins. You might be surprised what roles they may have this season, but to start, they will provide a fine floor for making sure this team stays afloat as the kids get their legs. I think the safeties and linebacker additions assure us that DB is better. Defensive tackle is the committee approach and we’ll see if they got it right or if they need more shopping. Gallimore is a big deal so they need to get him right for October and beyond and Trysten Hill is a vital piece, too.
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Jaylon Smith will be on the roster for the upcoming season. But a number of better options at LB are emerging. I don’t think Jaylon will start much and play as much as he did last season. Will Jaylon be on the team in 2023? I have my doubts that they’ll pay him all that $$ to be a backup/special teams player. — Scott C
I think there is a very slight chance he is on the roster in 2022 and a greater-than-zero chance he is not on the roster in 2021. Again, I take no joy in this, but I see some major issues with his ability to do his job and the money has already been spent. He cannot play special teams for the same reasons he cannot play linebacker at a high enough level. He will be given the benefit of the doubt from the team, but I am not very optimistic right now for his long-term spot here.
Hi Bob! Do the Cowboys make a phone call to the now-retired Joe Looney to see if he would be open to being an insurance policy at center for us this year? Williams cannot be an option. Please tell me he can’t. — Brian H
I think a month or two from now, that phone call is very possible. If they are contending, Joe Looney coming back is on my radar for sure, Brian.
With Neville Gallimore sidelined, do you think the Cowboys look elsewhere for DT help or stick with some combination of Bohanna, Urban, Watkins and Hill? — Taylor M
I think that is the group, but a guy like Justin Hamilton will probably get a spot, too, just to provide size to this mix. I think they believed they are deep there and want to give those players a chance to prove whether they can do it or not. Of course, they will also be monitoring cuts elsewhere and the waiver wire because I know Dan Quinn has plenty of personnel knowledge from around the league, too.
What is your opinion of Isaac Alarcon? He looked good yesterday. Do you think he can continue to be on the practice squad and eventually make the team? — Daniel A
I think his ability to get in the mix will be about his run blocking. I am not certain whether he can be in the practice squad mix, but I will look around. I assume they find him a player who probably needs more development right now.
Do you think that Dak will start on Sept. 9? That’s the only question that matters. — Bill C
Yes, I do. I think that will definitely happen.
Could/would/should the Cowboys go get Gardner Minshew for QB2? Or are there any other options for a QB who could come in and maybe win a game or two if he was forced into action for a month? Is Gilbert capable? — Chris C
I think anything approaching a QB of regard who is made available will cost a very nice draft pick because this league does not have promising young QBs available. Therefore, Minshew is too expensive unless you think he can start for you — assuming he is going to get moved at all. So, the Cowboys should be looking for reasonably priced options because they have their QB1 and that is how they got to Garrett Gilbert in the first place. Is he capable? That should mean, “can he go 2-2 in a month?” and I hope we never have to find out. But, I do think he can probably do that — so yes.
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We know McCarthy’s limitations as an X’s and O’s guy, and seeing him on Hard Knocks hardly inspires confidence in the other facets of head coaching. Assuming luck elsewhere with health, Dak’s performance and the offense clicking, etc. (not a given, of course), what are your thoughts as to whether McCarthy puts a hard cap on this team’s success? — Reed R
I have written about this weekly since he was hired and I don’t honestly get it. People don’t like Mike McCarthy here and I suppose that is being a coach of a rival who won some games that are painful memories around here. Therefore, most Cowboys fans don’t like him already. Then, he did not instantly put them in the Super Bowl (despite the chaos that gave him no chance in 2020). And then, he thought Austin Powers was a good idea last week. Oh, the humanity!
Look, he is a well-respected coach who people in this league believe in. He obviously was never going to win a war of wills in the court of public perception with Aaron Rodgers, so his PR has taken hits and even his fire and acumen have been questioned. I get all of this. But, a guy who has quite a resume of January and February accomplishments does not put a hard cap on this team’s success. He knows how to do it. Now he has to do the uncommon thing of being able to do it in different settings twice.
Bob, why is this team so sloppy under McCarthy? They make three nice plays in a row and then blow themselves up. Same from last season to preseason. — Gary M
Teams play sloppy in preseason because they are playing preseason games. It isn’t coaching. It is not playing your best players and therefore playing lesser players who are not prepared for games because training camp is not about that. Watch any preseason game and see sloppy football from 32 teams.
Greg Ellis or DeMarcus Lawrence? — Jonathan D
That’s a good one. I would take Lawrence, but I better be careful because Ellis was very good for a very long time.
Do you believe the hype about a new version of Ezekiel Elliott coming into this season? — Matthew P
Sure! There is nothing that hits a player harder than the reality of decline. He had a rough year (and wasn’t alone), but this causes players to see the future and they begin to make changes to their lives to delay it as long as possible. It is a tale as old as time to see a player change his diet, routine, workout, and ultimately his diet and begin to reprioritize things to extend a career or a prime. I believe this is the part of the story where Zeke currently is and I expect his very best and most locked-in effort in 2021. We shall see what that means.
Bob, is it possible to trade Jaylon Smith with his contract? He looks like a progress stopper for our younger LBs. — Shawn C
Is it possible? Sure. But, I have a hard time seeing any team trading for him and I have a harder time seeing any team giving anything of substance up if it does. The film is out there. They know what we know.
Hi Bob. I’m not looking to get rid of these two guys, but it does seem like Cedric Wilson and Noah Brown might be more like luxuries for Dallas right now, especially with Gallimore’s injury and the overall lack of depth at DT. Wouldn’t it make sense to see what a team like the Jets, Lions or Texans might have on the DT depth chart and make a straight football trade to try to shore up a potential weak spot? And also those two definitely seem to deserve the opportunity to be starters and see how productive they could be in more prominent roles. Thanks! — Chris P
It is worth looking around, but Wilson and Brown are certainly players who have value, but don’t have trade value in most cases. Wide receiver is a very deep talent reserve in this league and fringe roster guys usually don’t bring you anything in return. Defensive tackle is a very shallow pool, so the price for one in trade is usually more than a deep WR. I hope that makes sense, but there are just fewer useable 325-pound athletes on this planet than there are 190-pound athletes. Supply and demand would tell you it isn’t usually what you would hope for in a trade like that. That said, yes, they should shop their tails off.
Hey Bob! You are the reason I subscribe to The Athletic. At camp, have you seen more potential for the defense with the influx of rookies/FA guys that we have picked up paired with Dan Quinn obviously being a better choice as DC? I like what I’m seeing, but is it showing up when you’re watching? And as a lifelong fan, do you think that the team might finally be getting away from the sense I have had for … geez … at least since Romo … that they are selling a beautiful team with 6-8 thoroughbreds and if everything goes “just exactly perfect” they have a shot. To more of a “next man up” NFL reality? — William D
Thank you for those kind words. Yes, I really believe this offseason with 11 picks and several low-end signings, this team took very seriously the goal to upgrade the overall roster talent level. At times, it is easy to become too top-heavy with star players and that is why draft day has to come through to supplement the cheap labor with talent. Easier said than done, of course. I really like what I have seen so far. Of course, health has a lot to do with this and August is the healthiest month of the season, so we better not assume the job is done.
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As I watched Connor Williams play the center position, it appeared to me that he was doing a good job of calling out blocking assignments and was very effectively handling his business, regarding his own blocking assignments. It also seemed that often, he was getting to the second level. Yes, his snaps were not “automatic.” Is it easier to correct faulty snapping or blocking. (Also seemed that early in quarter 1, the right side of the line was routinely getting beat.) What say you? — Jimmy G
This is an astute observation and I think you are right. I have also been getting the feeling that Connor McGovern’s line calls are lacking a bit. This mental acumen is something that made Travis Frederick so useful as he was very smart, very prepared and then no unforced errors with snaps were present. But, that is what this job requires. It is mental and physical and you must measure up on both fronts. Bad snaps can be giveaways or at the very best, drive stoppers and you just can’t have those in this tight league. There is just no room for it. But, I do believe they liked his acumen and that is why they wanted to try him at center.
Ron’Dell Carter flashed (Friday); big & quick; he’s already been poached 1x; do you think he sticks especially with the Gallimore injury? Think that opens up a spot for him? — Steve T
Great question. I actually have spent time on this. I think they really like him but it is tough to figure out how good he is and where he fits in this group. He had a couple sacks, but breaking them down revealed that he was pretty much unblocked on one and the other was a comical effort by the left tackle for Arizona who surely is about to be released by that team. They paid Carter a lot of money last fall and were very high on him. The question is: Have the newcomers jumped him? He seems like a fringe player on the roster and it will be interesting to see if he can make it or not. I know they like him.
Bob, the Cowboys appear to be in the habit of losing! They keep finding new and unique ways of losing. I can imagine the players saying here we go again. Should the coaching staff do and play whoever they have to win games? — Ric H
I believe this question indicates that you are concerned with the outcomes of preseason games played in early August. I want to assure you that there is a habit of losing in sports, but don’t look to early August to find it. These games have nothing to do with winning or losing games. They have to do with winning or losing individual downs.
What’s your take on the report that the front office is not interested in extending Randy Gregory until after the season? I feel like he is a prime candidate to sign a team-friendly extension before what could be a breakout year. — Ty J
Ty, this is a great question. Yes, if you sign him now, you get him for less. But, if you sign him now, you also risk that he has never come close to a full season of productive play and you wasted money and look foolish (like with the Jaylon Smith extension). So, if the Cowboys front office is gun-shy right now and want Gregory to prove his ability in 2021 to earn his big raise, I cannot blame them at the moment. It is a reasonably cautious approach.
Thanks for the great questions and we’ll do this again soon.
(Top photo of Keanu Neal (42), Trevon Diggs (27), Damontae Kazee (35), Donovan Wilson (6): Christian Petersen / Getty Images)