Hey there, folks. It's been about 3 weeks since I posted one of these frankly, because the content wasn't that great and I've been listening to mostly the two big radio stations in DFW.
I was able to tune in for a few minutes this morning and grab today's segment on Jam Session, since we are actually discussing football instead of conjecture:
1. The OL has JJT worried, so he sent out a few text messages this week to see what's going on there. All of JJT's sources are indicating that the Tyron Smith injury is only a minor set-back and he should be a go to play in Atlanta, and his limited reps in practice are them trying to manage their way through it. Coincidentally, McCarthy and Jerry were a little coy today in regards to his status.
Then JJT wanted to learn about Terrence Steele and boldly asked one of his sources "what the hell, man? You guys signed Erving to play swing tackle. Where is he at?"
Source kind of punted the question, so JJT rephrased and asked "Was it something that Steele did show you, or was it something that Erving didn't show you?" to which the source stated "the latter." Erving just failed to impress in camp. The Cowboys were waiting and waiting for him to be a force in practice and it just never happened, and they like Steele's upside and think that he can play better while Collins is out.
Erving simply is who he is. JJT likened it to a Madden rating. Steele might be a 62 right now, but he could be a 71 by the end of the season. Erving could be a 66 right now, but you know damn well he'll be a 66 by the end of the season. Erving could step up and get back into good graces with this coaching staff, but for now, it sounds like Steele is their guy.
Collins can't come back soon enough.
2. Jaylon was being coy with the media this week, as there seemed to be some confusion as to where he is going to lineup on Sunday afternoon. Slater, using one of her buzz words as JJT joked, asked him a few times for "clarity", to which Jaylon said "I'm a weak side linebacker that will call the plays." Which means Joe Thomas is likely going to be playing MLB this Sunday.
JJT loved the move because it allows Jaylon to play to his strengths (though I'm still debating those 'strengths'). JJT thinks a lot of teams need a guy like Joe Thomas because he's a seasoned veteran who can answer the bell and step up and play whenever it's asked of him. He's good depth and he's way better in coverage than Jaylon. Either way, JJT put us all on notice on the air this morning that Joe Thomas is going to be a stud this season. I hope he's right.
3. A lot of stats were discussed here about first down, but the jist of it is that - yeah, Zeke looked great on Sunday night, but Dak was lethal throwing the ball on first downs. I believe the stat line was 13/15 for 100+ yards with a 100+ passer rating with an average attempt of around 9 yards per attempt. JJT is hyped about Zeke, and even boldly stated that he looks like "2016 Zeke" as of last Sunday, but the analytics are showing that we need to throw more to set up the run, on first down.
4. JJT mentioned the old rudimentary math that Parcells coined - the formula is 100 yards = 7 points. If you rack up 400 yards of offense, you need to score 28 points. The Cowboys achieved the results of this formula 8 times last season, and each game they won. When they didn't - you guessed it - they lost!
Last week, the Cowboys put up 380 yards and only put up 17 points and that's simply not enough. The team is built to win offensively, and that's how the funds are allocated. If this offense is dynamic and productive, we win football games. When they flounder, so does the team. In summation, score points and finish drives with touchdowns instead of field goals, turnovers, untimely sacks, penalties, and negative plays.
And that's all I got folks. Let's do it again next week.
