Hangin' With The 'Boys: Maintaining Average

The Cowboys got a much-needed victory against the Colts, and hey, a win is a win. So why does it feel like a loss? Because they let a bad team get back in the game? Along those lines, why do the Cowboys continue to collapse in the fourth quarter? Is it adjustments? Execution? Yes and yes. And about those penalties …

Is there a disconnect between Dak Prescott and Brian Schottenheimer when it comes to the play-calling? Why was an offense that was clicking last year still trying to find its identity this season? Are there too many distractions for the head coach? Plus, Jesse's stat, our predictions and, um, oil wells.

We heard the word "execution" used by several players yesterday, most notably Quinnen Williams. As good as he's playing, does he get frustrated when others aren't doing their job, like setting the edge? Plus, is there a problem with leadership in the locker room? And as a rookie, does Jaishawn Barham need more snaps?

Why would execution still be a problem nine weeks into the season? Doesn't that mean they're not executing well in practice? Plus, the Cowboys run one offensive formation more than any other NFL club. Is it a sign that maybe the scheme is a bit antiquated? And how come we're seeing fewer passes to the tight ends?

So does the coach's pay have no correlation with winning? Can a great coach get you an extra win or two? Plus, the offense isn't carrying the team as expected, but if they're playing to avoid turnovers, does that mean they're playing not to lose? Shouldn't they be playing to win? And we haven't heard the "R" word used around here before.

Why can't the Cowboys put together a complete game? One minute they look great, the next they look awful. How come whenever they really need to go get it, the offense seems to just get more conservative? Did they really need to run the ball 39 times? Plus, why aren't they using George Pickens more? And can they rely on Joe Porter?

We've expected blowouts before, so will it be different this time? CeeDee Lamb said energy vs. the Cardinals has been a problem in the past. Why? Also, after three straight night games, will playing a noon matchup on a short week be an issue? Can the Cowboys finally stack up a couple of wins? Plus, Jesse's stat and our predictions.

Has the Cowboys defense improved any? Somewhat. Would they be better if they blitzed more? The stats say they could be, so why don't they? Especially on third down, where the unit has really struggled to get off the field. Plus, why is containment on the edges such an issue? The problem is well known. Why isn't it fixed?

As great as he is, did Tyler Smith need a couple of games to get him and the offensive line back in the flow? Nate gives us a great breakdown of why he did. Plus, was Brian Schottenheimer really spending too much time with the defense? We've got first-hand knowledge of how former coaches like Landry, Johnson and Garrett handled their head coaching roles.

People have been asking for the run, and Brian Schottenheimer gave them the run, to the tune of 204 rushing yards. Will the Cowboys now continue with a balanced offensive attack, or will the ground game in Philly be an outlier? Plus, we dig into why George Pickens and Jaishwan Barham saw fewer snaps (which was a good thing). Nothing like a Victory Tuesday!

Shannon Gross, Nate Newton, and Jesse Holley break down the upcoming Eagles Monday Night game, discussing the Cowboys' struggles, Brian Schottenheimer's play calling, George Pickens' blocking controversy, taking calls from fans and concludes with score predictions for the Cowboys-Eagles game.

Caleb Downs leads the team in tackles this season, but he's also struggling in the passing game. How can they help him in coverage? Simple, get to the quarterback. Speaking of, do the Cowboys need to worry about Philly's backup QB? What if Saquon Barkley returns? Plus, Jerry Jones has said he'd still be willing to make a trade. Is that a good idea?

We've been hearing about how much the Cowboys need to run more. Will they now overcompensate against a stout Eagles front? Although is the Philadelphia defense as good as we seem to think? Their stats would suggest otherwise. Plus, with all the yards gained, why aren't there more explosive plays on offense?

Both the Buccaneers and Packers blitzed like they knew how the Cowboys would react. So what is the Dallas offense going to do differently to change things up? And how can they overcome what seems to be confusion in trying to defend against the blitz? Plus, would running the ball more actually help? Maybe not in some situations.

The Cowboys had 10 days to prepare for this game against the Packers, so why did it look like they weren't ready? Why do they look so out of sync on both sides of the ball? Maybe more importantly, can they figure out how to dig themselves out of this hole, and as Nate says, "Just do your job"? Let's break down another disappointing loss.

Should we be concerned when coordinator Klayton Adams says the offense is still trying to find its identity? If the passing game is their big punch, should the Cowboys just lean into it? Plus, why do we keep seeing the same mistakes on defense, like containment? Plus, playing at Lambeau, Jesse's stat and our predictions.

Sounds like Malachi Lawrence is going to be getting more snaps. Is that the right move? You bet it is. But what other changes could we see? Will Caleb Downs return to his nickel spot? Let's hope so. And why has such a big deal been made about hiring Mike Pettine, or where Christian Parker will be located during the game? Well, that's life with the Dallas Cowboys.

We're getting into the Cowboys offense vs. the Packers defense today, as well as should Dallas be using more motion in its game plan. Plus, is the team's roster too top-heavy? Are they developing young talent? And it's story time with Nate and Jesse as they talk pregame meals, training room etiquette and more.

We were sold on the idea that Christian Parker had all the answers, and that the Cowboys defense was immediately going to be better. But shouldn't we have expected there would be a learning curve for a new coordinator with new players? Now, here comes Mike Pettine. What happened? What's ahead? Let's get into it.

The Cowboys may have some defensive guys returning from injury soon, but will it really matter if the team's top players aren't consistently making an impact? Plus, at this point, what tweaks should the Cowboys consider making? Is it time to take a hard look at tight end? How about defensive end? When does accountability come into play?

What the heck happened against the Buccaneers? The Cowboys just couldn't get things figured out on either side of the ball. Is the defense ever going to be able to stop the run? Why did the offense struggle so much against the blitz? Was the team once again unprepared? Time to commiserate over another painful performance.

Fans and media alike are surprised that the Cowboys defense so far in this young season hasn't really been any better than last year. Are the players surprised as well? And could Joey Porter travel with the opponent's top receiver? Not in this current system. Plus, containing running quarterbacks, Jesse's stat and our predictions.

Nate Newton, Jesse Holley and Shannon Gross break down the upcoming Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Thursday night game, discuss Bijan Robinson's elite talent, the Cowboys' offensive strengths with Prescott and Lamb, Tyler Smith's injury status, and concerns about the Cowboys' defense and special teams through the first four weeks of the season.

CeeDee Lamb was incredible, but why did the Texans seem to focus on George Pickens? Are we seeing improvement along the defensive front? How did Joey Porter do in his first game with the team? Plus, are quarterbacks often just throwing to spots? Let's celebrate a resilient and much-needed win!

Nate Newton, Jesse Holley, Shannon Gross analyze the Cowboys' run game, the secondary situation with Joey Porter Jr., key matchups and the offensive line, and wrap up with weekly predictions.