Can Cowboys keep momentum from Eagles win? | Free4All+

It is Free For All Plus. I'm Mike Ducey. Thanks for being with us tonight. A little bit bleary-eyed. Producer Landry would probably agree. Sam's off tonight, by the way. But we're a little bleary-eyed because we got out of this building at about 1 in the morning. Game 4 of the World Series went 12 innings last night on Fox. Game 5 is getting underway as we speak on Fox right now. As Tampa managed to extend the series, winning for the first time in the Fall Classic last night in extra innings. Milwaukee up, obviously, three games to one. Still, no team has ever overcome an 0-3 deficit to come back and win the World Series. In fact, as I'm reading here, no, that's 25 times the team's gone up 3-0. Nobody's ever forced a game six after going down three games to none. So Tampa's trying to do something that's never been done in the World Series before. Or if the Rays can get a win tonight, the series would go back to Milwaukee for game six and possibly seven on Friday and Saturday. Part of me hopes that happens because I spent a little time in Wisconsin along the way. I know what that Brewer fan base is like, and I think Milwaukee is still going to win the series, obviously. But the scene of them winning it at home in Milwaukee, I think, would be pretty amazing. Tony Casillas joins us in a minute to talk Cowboys, and they begin to prepare for Arizona now. Mavs off to a two-and-two start, host unbeaten Oklahoma City tonight, and there's news from the Mavs front office today, news that was expected. Maverick CEO Rick Welts, who's 73 years old, is retiring at the end of the year. Been with the club about two years. he joined the team for no other reason other than to help to try to get the arena deal through and that's well on the way the Mavs want to build that new arena in North Dallas to uh to get underway for the 31-32 season now our team president Ethan Kasson who was hired last year will succeed Rick Welts as Mavs CEO Welts again staying on until December 31st Welts is a basketball hall of famer spent 50 years in the nba with various clubs in various capacities most notably with the with the warriors and again the mavericks brought him him in to help get that arena thing off the ground um he led the chase center project for the warriors in in san francisco before he came here and uh casson again has had experience both with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the San Francisco 49ers, and he will become the Mavs' new CEO at the end of the year. All right, Cowboys Cardinals Sunday at noon on Fox. Dallas 3-4, Arizona 2-5. Preps underway at the Star under cloudy skies today. Cowboys found some balance on offense finally in the win over Philadelphia Monday night. Ran it for over 200, passed it for just over 200. Javante Williams, 155 yards for Coach Brian Schottenheimer. Obviously, running the football effectively opens things up in the passing game. Basic offensive philosophy there. We'll see if Schottenheimer sticks to that script again this Sunday against the Cardinals. One guy who benefits from an emphasis on the run is tight end Brevin Spanford, a better blocker than Jake Ferguson. Spanford getting more involved in this offense than he has been before. Spanford with reporters today talking about that balance and pounding the rock. It's definitely good being able to play complementary football. help the defense and you know they take the ball away and we score so being able to be efficient in that you can never go wrong with it you can ask any offense and they want to be efficient on the ground we want to be efficient in whatever we do but we know it helps set up the rest of our offense so starting things on the ground getting off to a fast start was was really important it opens up the rest of your offense opens up your play action game gives us the ability to take deep shots down the field and no it was it was awesome can't wait to you know carry that over and continue to build on it. Great to have back with us College Football Hall of Famer, former Cowboy Tony Casillas, to talk a little football as the Cowboys got back on track Monday night, beating the Eagles on the road. First of all, Tony, you've been in that environment many times. I guess it was the old stadium when you played, but it's still the same types of fans. What was it like playing games in Philadelphia? It wasn't pleasant. There was no love lost when it comes to the city of brotherly love. I don't know where they got that narrative, But, you know, it's just the culture of playing Eagles. You know, my experience is my good. There was never any good experience or the best experience of actually beating them there. And then their fans just making them just be crow. And I think that that's what adds the element to this game. And between the two teams, sometimes I question it, whether, yeah, we hate each other, go back and forth as teams. But I think it's more for the fans and everything that goes on. And you got to remember, Mike, in the old Vet Stadium. There was a jail inside. That should tell you to explain to the, the hostile situation that was. And it was, it got some use from fans. The, the Cowboys finally ran the ball and stuck with the run. And what do you know? They run for 200 yards as a team. Javante Williams, a career high, 155 yards. What did you think about Schottenheimer being able to get that kind of balanced offense on Monday night? Well, I mean, I think going into the game, I think they wanted to develop some type of balance, and Javante Williams goes off for 155 yards and one touchdown. I think there's only three, Emmitt Smith and Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Dorsett have only done that, so I think that they really want to commit to the run, and I think Javante Williams does some nice things. I think more and more you give him space. Now, you've got to consider the Eagles and the timing of their defense, but anytime you can, Mike, run the football like that and effective, the day gets long for those defense. Especially those defensive linemen, you got these linemen leaning on you and you get to that fourth quarter and it's almost like no moss. So you got to kudos to them trying to really establish the run. And it helps your own defense, obviously, by being able to sustain some drives and keeping your own defense off the field. Dak, I thought, was really efficient. His numbers weren't what they sometimes are, but he didn't have to throw it 50 times. And it was like 212 yards passing or something, but those three touchdowns were all pretty impressive you know i think you'll any quarterback you ask if they if you can get a balanced attack like the Cowboys did they kind of look like the old Cowboys when i played as far as balance but anytime you can run the football efficiently it takes so much pressure off the off the the quarterback and the offense to have to get all these chunk yards so i think anytime they can get that type of balance uh it just really adds a lot more confidence and efficiency to you know to the offense and especially when all the guys are you know the defense is down there inside the box and they're all trying to stop the run obviously that opens up a lot for play action then there's the defense uh it's still not sold on that you're not buying on that yet in terms of points allowed i guess some improvement there but you got to consider who they're going up against a backup quarterback eagles with all sorts of injuries there's still a lot of guys running free for these opposing offenses what do you see when you look at that dallas defense on monday night well I think as we mentioned the chunk yards when you know there's certain instances in third and long and they're able to convert now they're able to as you as you as you mentioned they didn't have all hands on deck with that offense we all know Jalen Hurts is out there was times in that game where you thought my gosh i mean this they're going to keep the Eagles into the game because they can't stop the run and get off the field but I think they made enough big plays early on in the fourth quarter to really give them an opportunity to close the game because that's the problem with this defense they haven't been able to stop the run and so many penalties that timely whenever that negated a big you know would be third three and out or stop the drive and that's something that they can't have this this defense is just not good enough to afford to be able to make mistakes like that and overcome them as you mentioned yeah they're able to do it against a dismantled Philadelphia Eagles offense but I think anytime you can get Devarion Overshawn gets a big you know interception I think Quinnen Williams I mean I think Quinnen Williams has got a ball every week Mike there's got to be a difference maker on that offense on that defensive line I think he's got to be the playmaker whoever the bell cow is on that side of the defense but certainly those are the two things you know giving up the chunk yards and the penalties They just cannot afford to self-inflict themselves. And is it, this is a simplistic question, but is it the players on defense or is it the scheme that the coach is putting in place or is it a combination of both? I think it's a combination. To me, it just looks like imposing your will and really just a personal thing when it comes to stopping an offense. I mean, offenses are going to have plays here and there. Obviously, that's the nature of the game, the nature of offenses in the NFL. But it's just, once you start getting, as weird as it sounds, once you start to get used to that, offenses like running the ball and just having their way with you, there's some self-doubt. And I think that they have to play their way out of it. They have to play their situational football where they make plays. And I think it's a combination. I think we got the two-headed monster now with the defensive coordinators. I don't know how well that's going to factor in. But as you mentioned, they needed a win, man. They needed to stop the bleeding. After Tampa Bay and after going to Green Bay and getting embarrassed there, they needed something to stop the bleeding. I don't know if they were playing popcorn state. They needed a win to stop the bleeding. You've played in situations before where the coach is under fire, like Schottenheimer had a rough week last week. Maybe for the first time in his tenure as Cowboys head coach, there were real questions about whether his job was in jeopardy he responded after the game monday night with some short answers for the media and stuff you could tell he was maybe a little bit bothered by that but and every situation is different, I realize this, but how much do players hear that when their coach is is embattled and does it affect the way the guys approach the game, I think, I think your players that's when you find out who your players, I know that they had a players only meeting but you know Schottenheimer comes across as a really personable coach and and loose environment and and that works, that bodes well for some players but you know if you're going to have that type of environment then your players have really got to step up and don't make me look bad and I think yeah, this is a the job of insecurity as a national football league coach in the NFL and to see some of the losses he's had, uh, you'd want your players respond a little bit better than they have. And it does come down to the coaching. Every week, I mean, you look at the preparation, the focus, the game plan and execution. That shows up on Sunday, whether they're doing that Tuesday through or Wednesday through Saturday. I don't have my eyes there, so I can't really judge that. But certainly, I think he's feeling the heat. I think that he needs to win. And especially after the last two losses I mentioned, Those are very hard to watch, and I just don't think, I think Jerry, he's pretty much, you can see he'd had enough. And now it lines up pretty well for the Cowboys with this division the way it is. They're a game and a half back, but they've got the Cardinals and Colts and Niners, Titans, Eagles. So they're favored in four of their next five games. They've got four of the next five at home, I think, as well. So if you had to say right now, do you think the Cowboys win the NFC East? It seems weird to say. When you look at the Giants, what, they're 4-1-1 or 4-2-1, and then you look and then there's the Cowboys at 3-4. 3-4, and then you have, obviously, the Eagles, and then you have Washington. I think it's up for grabs right now. I mean, if they can find a way to go on a run and figure something out and play complementary football and not play so bad on defense, they could definitely make a run. As you mentioned, four out of the next five games is winnable. Now we've seen this team play winnable teams, and now that's gone. And they were losable, yeah. Yeah, so when you look at the schedule, yeah, I think they should have a lot more confidence in thinking, you know what? If we put things together and we figure out the defense and really are able to execute on that side of the ball, then the offense can stay consistent. I mean, I don't think – I think it's up for grabs in the NFC East. It's as hard as that to say with all these teams that have losing records. So we wrap up with Tony Casillas, shift gears just a little bit. Do you think your former teammate, Troy Aikman, could work for or with Jerry Jones in the Cowboys front office if it came to that? Hell no. I just, you know, look, I think everyone, that's a great talker. I mean, I don't know. It's like, yeah, it's great to see that type of personality in Troy. Now, Troy's an all-nonsense guy. He's a very smart, intelligent football IQ guy. But I can't see him working for Jerry Jones. I would be like Jerry. I think Troy is a lot like Jimmy Johnson. And I just don't think under the parameters that Troy would be able to exist with that type of, more or less, that type of parameters as accountability. I just don't see that. I don't think, it kind of reminds me when Barry took over, Troy could not coexist with Barry because he didn't have the structure that Jimmy had. And so, in saying that, I could be wrong, but no, I don't think that that would be Troy's first place to go and be a GM. All right, I asked and you answered, Tony Casillas. I tried to. Always great catching up with you. Thanks, Tony. Take care. Appreciate it, bro. Send it to a quick break off the poll question. And how badly do you want Jerry to bring Troy in? Give us your thoughts at fox4news.com slash free for all or scan the code. We're back after this. Mentioned earlier, Sam's off tonight. She and I recorded recently another episode of our podcast. It's called Afterthought. Put one out almost every week. Sometimes we let it lapse a little bit just because of schedules. But talk about a number of different topics. Some are sporty, some are not. Latest episode has to do with music. some discussion about some of the concerts that we've seen and these slightly different generational tastes. Take a look. We both agree that actually consuming live music is one of our favorite forms of entertainment, right? Yeah, it's just the best. I really do feel alive when I go to a concert. It's one of the few times I think I'm able to forget about everything and really immerse myself in the moment. What about you? the same and and i think we're going to list some of our favorite shows that we've seen live and it's going to illustrate the generation gap as though we need any reminder there and we grew up in different areas i grew up in small town iowa you grew up in boston where you had access to the biggest of the big shows all the time that wasn't the case with me growing up necessarily so the first show of any consequence that i saw of a band that anybody ever heard of was when i was at the university of iowa and i saw the band boston ironically which was a huge act in the early 80s it was probably 1980 it's one of the first dates my wife and i went on actually the first concert we ever saw together was boston at the old iowa field house but ruth and i have kind of made it a point in recent years to to check off some of those bucket list artists just we we just happened to see through the years a lot of our favorites and it's it's the the kind of music that you would expect people our age to enjoy seeing the eagles like three times they still do a really solid show they play the hits they give you what you want james taylor is one of my favorite live shows incredible just you know such a great guitar player underrated guitar player and i just love love his music i've seen billy joel seen elton john uh you too at the superdome was one of my favorite shows just spectacular uh and and but i think you know we saw mccartney that was one of the first big shows at AT&T stadium back when that opened all those years ago and just seeing paul mccartney my all-time favorite performer was magical you know his voice had lost something by that time on and on but seeing him play those songs and him play that left-handed bass live was was really special saw springsteen at American Airlines Center literally every big artist of your time and bruce still had it but i think probably my favorite live show was the rolling stones and it was at soldier field in chicago mick jagger had come off um i think he had a minor heart procedure and was out for a few months and it was his first show back and his energy was incredible but they knew their audience because that show started right at 7:30 it was a tight two hours and 20 minutes you were in the car by 10 o'clock on your way home so they knew the age of their of their audience um one other one i want to mention that folks might appreciate uh heart ann and nancy wilson you know they've had a ton of hits through the years and we saw them at the Jones County Fair in eastern Iowa with like a thousand people and it was just they both sounded so tremendous and it was great to be up that close so those are some of the names that i'm looking at now you can come back at me with some that i've never heard of before we go to me though who's someone that you haven't seen yet or been that you would like to that you haven't that's a good question and it's probably a country artist that yeah that you are not familiar with but met one of the biggest country acts of all time and that's George Strait i've become a big i've heard of george become a big George Strait fan and i've not yet seen him i think it'd be fun to go to Vegas to see George Strait that's one that comes to mind there might be a few others that i'm not thinking of right now but uh that's probably near the top of the list so now to mine where people of my generation. First concert I ever saw was Coldplay. And I feel like Coldplay resonates with all generations. My mom is a huge Coldplay fan. Saw Coldplay three times. One time in Massachusetts, this big outdoor theater. Why am I forgetting what it's called now? It used to be called the Tweeter Center. No, not the Tweeter Center, some outdoor venue, and I can't think of the name. Second time I saw them was in Connecticut. Third time I saw them was at Madison Square Garden which that's just one of those iconic arenas in general so to see a concert in there like to see them perform in that space was cool i've seen Rihanna once Beyonce i've seen twice Justin Timberlake who back then he was my absolute favorite him and rihanna are probably my two tops i've heard of all these so far real quick i saw justin timberlake at jerry's hall of Fame party in Canton, Ohio. Justin Timberlake played Jerry's Hall of Fame party. So I saw JT three times. I saw 50 Cent at Nokia Theater in Times Square. John Legend, which now I saw John Legend right before he kind of blew up into a huge star. And what was really cool about that It was one of the more intimate settings. I saw him at UConn in a small campus. Tickets were $15. Lady Gaga, I've seen. Raul Alejandro, Carol G, Kenny Chesney, oddly enough, because I went with my friends. I bet that's fun. And then, of course, my favorite artist, Bad Bunny. Seen him twice. My favorite concert was when I saw him last December in Mexico City outdoors. It was just, it was a really unique, unbelievable experience. And the thing about concerts is the music is one thing, the vibe is another. And a lot of the shows you're talking about have that. It's all vibes. That's for sure. Afterthought is the name of the podcast. And we're back in just a moment with news of a semi-retirement of a broadcast legend. Stay with us. Hey, everybody. Ernie Johnson here. You know, I've been hosting inside the NBA for a long time. This is my 37th year. And I've long described it as a get-to job. I'm still amazed that I get to do this for a living. This will be my last season. Totally my decision. It's just time. I just want to say thanks to you. Thanks for your loyalty, for your love, for your support. And on this day, for your understanding. We'll see you on TV tonight. The great Ernie Johnson announcing, as you heard, that this will be his final season. Hosting the Inside the NBA Studio Show, which is on ESPN now after all those years on TNT. You see him with Barkley and Kenny Smith and Shaq. Ernie, definitely the glue that holds that show together. As he said, 37 seasons as its host. Says he has other projects that he is still involved with, but he will step away from inside the NBA at the end of this season. Great Ernie Johnson, such a class act, 70 years of what?