Hangin' with the Talkin' Cowboys: First Half Grades

Is it a big deal when the Cowboys and Commanders get together? You can bet it is in Washington. Plus, as one who used to have that job himself, Jesse breaks down fake punts and who makes the call, while Nate (you know, the six-time Pro Bowl guard) explains what he looks for in offensive linemen. It's a little bit of everything on this Football Friday.

As fans are we okay if the Cowboys lose now? Are the expectations that it's time to play for next year? How do players feel? Does building a winning culture start now? If you don't practice hard, do you stick out? Or is it accepted? Plus, can DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis make a big impact when they return? Yes, they can, but it might not be in the way you think.

With the season not going as planned, are these injured players in a hurry to get back or would they rather just wait? It's all about their mentality. Do they get to play football? Or do they have to? For those who love the game, they enjoy playing even when losing. Plus, how does the Cowboys offense match up against Washington's defense? It may be time to seriously run the ball.

With desperation setting in, how do the players now approach each game? From Nate's experience, it's about making it personal. Each player must find his motivation. And that goes for coaches too. But was there anything from the game the Cowboys can take into next week? Plus, is it time to see Trey Lance play? And maybe it's time to let the great Zack Martin rest and get healthy.

It's Friday, so time for some fun. Jesse shares a great interaction he had with DeMarvion Overshown and explains the art of "breaking down." We also say farewell to our man Kaden, who's headed off for bigger and better things, and we've got some Rico Dowdle talk and a key stat of the game. Plus, our predictions for both the Cowboys and the big boxing match.

The Texans' offensive line is a little soft in the middle, but can the Cowboys attack them there? Can Mike Zimmer get creative? Can they slow down Joe Mixon? Plus, Nico Collins is expected back. Could Dallas catch a break while he ramps up? And since two of the NFL's top receivers will be facing off in Collins and CeeDee Lamb, let's break down some of the best in the business at the position.

The Cowboys offense better be ready because the Texans defense is coming. They play hard and they flat-out hustle. So how does Dallas help Cooper Rush attack downfield? He's not as bad as he showed last week, but is he as good as he showed two years ago? Let's hope so. And is it time to give Asim Richards more action on the line?

Where have all the turnovers gone? Is it a different defensive scheme? Do they have the right players for that scheme? Or does it simply begin and end with getting pressure up front? Also, if there was one thing that we could change on the field what would it be? (Hint: health). Plus, fans are getting emotional, and they have a right to. After all, sometimes you pick the team; sometimes the team picks you.

Despite what the final score says, the Cowboys were in that game against the Eagles in the first half. So what happened? Plus, is it time to sit the great Zack Martin and let him get healthy? And how about a few positives from the game? Micah Parsons, DeMarvion Overshwon … there has to be a few, right?

The Cowboys have one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league in Cooper Rush, but he hasn't played much the last couple of years. Does that give him an advantage against the Eagles defense? Plus, are there rivalries in the NFL anymore? There are for fans, but do today's players feel the same way? Here's betting they do when Philly comes to town!

Do the Cowboys have the manpower to stop offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and the Eagles? Is there any alignment that could help? Micah Parsons could be back, but will he be at full strength? And just how does Dallas slow down maybe the best running back in the NFL, Saquon Barkley? It's a big rivalry game on Sunday!

With Cooper Rush now behind center, will the Cowboys get more basic with their game plan? Or do they need to get more creative, given the circumstances? Plus, does Dallas desperately need a second tight end to step up? And how will the team handle CeeDee Lamb and his sore shoulder? Better to prepare for the worst, than hope for the best.

So why did they make the trade for Jonathan Mingo? This is a deal for the future, but can he help right now? Let's hope so. Plus, while Cooper Rush is now the starter at quarterback, should they try to work Trey Lance into the offensive mix some too? And how much better would the offensive line be if Zack Martin was healthy and again playing at an All-Pro level? We'd vote for that!

This season is only getting worse. Poor play on the field is now compounded by injuries to key players. So how bad can it get? And what should they do with the trade deadline looming? Is it time to sell? Do they have anything to sell? Plus, what do they do with Ezekiel Elliott? If they want to start changing the attitude of this team, there's only one thing they can do.

Is this Falcons game going to decide the Cowboys' direction? Win against a good team and there's hope? Lose big and things go downhill? Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy both hinted that players aren't studying enough, aren't communicating enough and are still having to work on the basics. Is that surprising in Week 9? Let's step it up here on this Friday!

Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will take what you give him, and if you give him a lot of time, he can take a lot. So can the Cowboys get any kind of pass rush on him? How do they stop tight end Kyle Pitts? And then there's Atlanta's ground game. Oh, boy. Plus, is there any reason for Micah Parsons to rush back? And why not a little candy corn debate on this Halloween?

Will the Cowboys' offensive line maybe catch a break this week? Atlanta's defense could be diced up by a quick, cutback runner. The problem is, does Dallas have such a guy? And by not leaning on one running back, is that throwing off the whole offense? Speaking of, Dak Prescott isn't running the ball anymore. How much is that hurting the team? Maybe more than we think.

So are the team's struggles an issue with the coaches? Or is it the players? Are the coaches making the necessary adjustments? Or are the players doing what they're supposed to? And is all this related to why they've been so bad in the third quarter? Plus, with the trade deadline next week, should they be buying? Or maybe it's time to sell?

Lot to review after the Cowboys' loss to the 49ers. Was the first half just a mirage? Why did they bother activating Dalvin Cook? Could they have done anything differently to stop George Kittle? How about stopping the run? And yes, what the reporter questioned in his post was probably wrong, but is that an excuse for Trevon Diggs' actions? Nope. The frustration mounts.

The word is the Cowboys have been practicing better this week. That's great but, uh, what took so long? And can they now carry these great practices into the game? After all, the 49ers are pretty banged up and maybe worn out. Are they ripe for the picking? Plus, word is Dalvin Cook is ready, so who sits? Would they rather be right or win games? Showdown Sunday is coming!

How does a football player get picked for jury duty during the season? Is this yet another "distraction"? Plus, we've talked about how the Cowboys need to do something different on offense coming out of the bye week. Does the defense need to make adjustments as well? And Nate gets fired up about the pass rush (or lack thereof) while Jesse shares his theory about Dalvin Cook.

Lot of buzz about the tours that go on around the team's practice facility. Ah, such is the life of the Cowboys. But is it really a problem for the players? Only if they let it be. As far as this coming Sunday, what is Dallas going to do on the offensive line? Will Tyler Guyton be back out there? And what should they expect from Fred Warner and the 49ers defense? One thing is for sure – the Cowboys can't be predictable.

For fans, the thought of playing the 49ers again brings a sense of dread, but how do the players feel? With so much roster turnover, do they care about what happened in the past? Are there mental hurdles to overcome? This might be the best time to face them, though. Are the Cowboys catching a break, given San Francisco's injuries? Plus, who remembers the Jesse Holley game? We do!

So Mike McCarthy said he's going to tweak practices some, committing to more team work. In what way will that help? Plus, Cowboys great Troy Aikman had an interesting opinion on the receivers. Was he right? (Hint: yes.) So what's the problem? Is frustration setting in? And do tough losses affect today's players like it did back in Nate's day? (Hint: sure doesn't seem so.)

Shannon Gross is joined by Nick Harris, Jazz Monet and Josh Rodriguez in a podcast mix-up episode to give grades on the Cowboys skill positions so far and make their picks for the rest of the year.