Hangin' with the 'Boys: Effort-Less

Was there a problem with the Cowboys' effort in that game against the Saints? Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer took the blame but said, "They beat us off the snap quite a few times." Isn't that effort? More importantly, can it be corrected? And, uh-oh, is Zack Martin starting to look mortal? Good thing we've got a six-time Pro Bowl lineman who has been through this himself and can give us some insight!

The Ravens defensive line is stout. There won't be much pushing them around. So do the Cowboys not even worry about running the ball? Along those lines, center Cooper Beebe has been great in pass protection but has struggled some in run blocking? What does he need to do? Plus, someone has to step up and help CeeDee Lamb in the passing game? Who's it going to be?

When you break it down, that game was lost at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Sure, the Saints had a scheme and motion that kept the Cowboys guessing, but they were also just more physical, continuing an ongoing theme. From questionable play-calling to questionable effort, this was ugly. So can they now put this debacle behind them and forget about it? Or should they?

So should tight end Jake Ferguson play this weekend? Why rush him back this early in the season? Plus, Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was on Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's staff in Minnesota. Will that give one or the other an advantage when they face off on Sunday? And could defensive end Chase Young be an even bigger challenge for Tyler Guyton? It's a freaky Friday!

After one game, were there any big differences between Mike Zimmer's defense and Dann Quinn's? How about the way Micah Parsons is used? Is it okay to empower him to do what he does best? You better believe it. Plus, how worried should we be about this Saints offense? With the formations and schemes they run, they might just be better than we think. Don't miss the breakdown from Nate and Jesse.

Sure, the Saints played a bad Carolina team in Week 1, but that doesn't mean the Cowboys can take them lightly, right? Was winning on the road at Cleveland in Week 1 a big game for Dak Prescott? What happened in that second half? And will things get easier for the rookie linemen? Or tougher because now there's film?

Now that Dak Prescott has his money, what should the return on investment be for this to be considered a successful deal? Does he have to win a Super Bowl? Reach the NFC Championship Game? And speaking of contracts, is Mike McCarthy changing his approach any now that he's in his last year? Plus, how much will it affect the offense if Jake Ferguson misses time?

What a way to open the season. There are plenty of accolades to go around after that impressive win in Cleveland. How did the offensive line look with the two rookies? How about Mike Zimmer's defense, including the likes of DeMarvion Overshown, Eric Kendricks and Jourdan Lewis? And think Dak Prescott had a good day? It's Victory Monday!

It's time for our yearly trek through the schedule to see what games we think the Cowboys are going to win or lose. Are we looking at another 12-win season? A division title? Are they Super Bowl contenders or still building toward something? Plus, a few calls and more. Let's play some real football!

Micah Parsons may want to be a stealthy assassin moving around in the defensive scheme, but he's going to be the first player offenses look for on the field. So how can the Cowboys keep him from wearing down? And how long is it going to take for the defense overall to gel in Mike Zimmer's new scheme? Plus, can Deshaun Watson still be a game-changer?

Shannon, Jesse, and Nate discuss the latest Dallas Cowboys news and notes and preview Cowboys vs. Browns.

So is this running back by committee thing going to work? Will it be hard for the backs to get in a rhythm? Some say yes, others say no. Plus, of the starting rookies, which one do you have the most concerns about – Tyler Guyton, Cooper Beebe or Caelen Carson? And the latest on the Cowboys negotiations with Dak Prescott. Is the team smart to want a shorter-term deal?

Lot going to discuss on this hump day. Were there any surprises in the final cuts? Dalvin Cook is being added to the practice squad. Can he contribute? What should we be concerned about as we head into the season? The team's health? A new defense? McCarthy in his final year? A tougher schedule? Plus, a rant from Nate about young linemen and, um … feet talk?

Look who got signed right before we went on the air. Now under contract, will CeeDee Lamb be ready come Week 1? How long will it take for him and the offense to get in sync? And what's our concern level with DaRon Bland's injury? Can the Cowboys ride out his absence? Plus, early cuts, Deuce on the loose and more!

With one preseason game left, who are some of the players who really need to show out? And then what happens? How many might the Cowboys keep at wide receiver? Linebacker? Running back? Plus, what do all these additions on the defensive line mean? A lot of questions are about to be answered.

In the case of CeeDee Lamb, it's time to purchase now, please. His presence alone will not only help the other receivers and tight ends, but the running game will improve as well. But once he does sign, how long will it take for him to ramp up? Plus, is Trey Lance improving? And what does Tyler Guyton need to work on?

There are a few teams who tackle to the ground during training camp. As Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, "You can't box without sparring." So if the Cowboys want to get more physical, should they be following that same philosophy? Plus, how much should Guyton and Beebe play against the Raiders? They need reps, after all. And Jesse had a chance to catch up with some coaches during his trip to training camp.

Sure we wanted to see what Trey Lance could do, which was both good and bad, but yesterday's preseason game was about more than just the QB. There were standouts on defense, others who showed improvement, and a few who raised concerns. Time to break down the Cowboys' first game action of 2024!

Are joint practices with other teams a good thing? You bet, especially for the first-teamers who won't see action in the preseason games. Speaking of, what should we look for this Sunday? Aside from Martin, this offensive line needs reps. Will they get any? Plus, why are so many linebackers in the building?

Should we start worrying yet about CeeDee Lamb being on the field come Sept. 8? And what will the Cowboys do with Cooper Beebe if Brock Hoffmans wins the center job? Plus, will we really see a running back by committee, how tough is it to transition to linebacker, and a great breakdown from Jesse on what happens after the MIKE is identified.

How do CeeDee Lamb's teammates feel about him holding out? They're not worried. Heck, they get more reps. Plus, Micah Parsons had good things to say about coordinator Mike Zimmer. Will we really see the star edge rusher used in different ways this year? And we got a chance to see the new kickoff rules in place on Thursday night. Could be some exciting (and scary) times ahead. Time to bring in the weekend!

How did Tyler Guyton look yesterday in the padded practice? Our resident expert Nate Newton said good but not great. Hear what he has to say about the rookie and some of his fellow offensive linemen. Plus, Jesse digs deeper into the Dak Prescott contract situation. Hey, he's going to get paid, no doubt about that, so what's taking so long?

Losing Sam Williams was a tough blow for both the player and team. Where is his mindset right now? How will the Cowboys cover his loss? One thing is for sure, though. Life in the NFL marches on. Plus, Tyler Guyton is now working out with the first team offense and held his own against Micah Parsons. But how will he fare when the pads come on? That's when the alphas find out who the true alphas really are.

Training camp is now underway, and so are we! Time to catch up and take a look at what we'll be watching in the coming weeks. Is Mazi Smith ready to take a step forward? How will the Cowboys handle the quarterback situation with Trey Lance? Can Mike Zimmer bring a new level of toughness to the defense? Plenty of questions to be answered, and we're just getting started.

Jesse, Shannon, and Nate discuss the passing of Cowboys legend Larry Allen, comments from Micah Parsons at mandatory minicamp, and CeeDee Lamb handling business.