Think Tank
As usual, DeMarcus Lawrence didn't mince any words when asked for his opinion. This week, he offered his thoughts on Jared Goff:
"He's a quarterback. I don't like quarterbacks. My impression is the same. I go into every week wanting to take the quarterback's soul. When you get to look into a man's eye and see fear in his heart, that's when you know you've got him. That's how I play the game, and that's how we're going to dictate the game."
-David Helman
"Ready For Anything"
Last week, guard Xavier Su'a-Filo was a game-time decision to play and he was ultimately ruled inactive against Seattle. This week, it looks like he'll once again be a game-time decision. But the question now will be if he starts.
"I'm feeling better. I'm getting myself ready to play," said Su'a-Filo, who is dealing with an ankle issue. "Whatever they want me to do, I'm ready for anything. Obviously you'd like to play in a game like this. But I'll be ready for whatever they need."
If he doesn't start, rookie Connor Williams will again get the nod at left guard.
-Nick Eatman
Focusing On Gurley
This is Sean Lee's ninth season with the Cowboys, and he's faced a long list of elite running backs.
The Rams' Todd Gurley is up next, and Lee says the All-Pro back is "one of the better guys we've ever faced."
"He's the complete package and it's going to be an extreme challenge," Lee said of Gurley, who finished third in rushing yards during the regular season behind first-place Ezekiel Elliott and led all backs with 17 rushing touchdowns.
Lee got four defensive snaps against the Seahawks last Saturday, partly due to the flow of the game. The Cowboys had only 22 defensive plays in the first half, so Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith got most of the work. But Lee has said repeatedly that he's happy to contribute in whatever role he's asked – team goals are most important.
-Rob Phillips
Dak's Progress
While quarterback Dak Prescott has been on the injury report for his knee after taking a hit from Seattle helmet late in the game, Jason Garrett doesn't seem concerned at all with Dak's availability for Saturday.
In fact, he wasn't really engaging with a reporter's question on Thursday about the snaps he is taking in practice and if he's worried at all.
"No … he seemed to be doing fine."
-Nick Eatman
Hangin' With Cooper?
Wide receiver Amari Cooper is obviously one of the quieter players on this team but even Jason Garrett said the wide receiver is starting to open up around his teammates and coaches, even joking that he's getting better than just one-sentence responses.
"Absolutely. We're getting there. We're not quite at a paragraph yet," Garrett quipped. "He's a great young man. He's serious minded. Loves ball. Wants to get better every day. Like everyone, when someone gets comfortable, you see them talk a little more and open up… we've loved him since minute one."
-Nick Eatman
Watch the Fake
Jason Garrett was asked about using more practice time this week on special teams for the Rams' potential fake punts, something that is rather frequent with punter Johnny Hekker.
"They've done a lot of fakes this year and throughout their history," Garrett said. "Their special teams coach John Fassel is a fantastic coach. They're really fundamentally sound. You have to be ready for that every week and this week no different."
-Nick Eatman
