Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan to discuss the team’s state after falling short to the Philadelphia Eagles 23-28 on Sunday.
Jerry Jones Talks Dak Prescott’s Performance
Jones covered multiple topics, but he spoke a lot about the Cowboys’ offense and gave credit where it was due for how well Dak Prescott played.
“If Dak [Prescott] can have those kind of games. We can, I think, get where we want to be this year,” said Jones.
He also mentioned the struggles from the right side of the offensive line, specifically with Terence Steele, that allowed 12 pressures on Prescott during the game. However, he credited Prescott’s ability to play like he did, even with a season-high amount of pressures throughout the game.
Will Dallas Get Terence Steele Help?
Jones admitted that Steele struggled in this game but that getting him help would limit the offense overall. He also contributed Steele’s play to the 26-year-old bouncing back from his season-ending ACL tear in December last year.
The form of help could come in having more tight ends on the field, helping with pass protection. However, the owner agrees with head coach Mike McCarthy that scheming the offense around this would take away from the passing game.
MORE: Mike McCarthy Reflects on Loss to Eagles
“You could second guess leaving him on an island… I don’t really think he’s on an island, but he did struggle, but I’m glad we got him,” said Jones.
The owner said what balances Steele’s struggles were on the other side of the line and the game Tyron Smith had.
Is Tony Pollard’s Previous Injury Impacting Production?
Overall, Jones said the offensive line went against “the toughest challenge Philadelphia has” in their defensive line.
Because of the strength of the Eagles’ defensive line, it wasn’t expected that the Cowboys would overcome their struggles to establish the run in this game. Nevertheless, Dallas had 73 total rushing yards, 51 of which came from Tony Pollard.
Jones was asked if Pollard is in a similar situation as Steele and rehabbing back from the fractured fibula he suffered in the NFL Divisional Round. He said, “Not seeing it at all, and I don’t hear it from any trainers. I’m not hearing it from any coaches.”
The State of the Cowboys’ Wide Receivers
Michael Gallup and Jalen Tolbert
Jones believes that Michael Gallup is working his way back, both physically and mentally, from the ACL tear he suffered in Week 17 of the 2021 season. The Cowboys owner says despite this, the front office is seeing some of the traits that they “really like” about him.
Jalen Tolbert has been on the uphill with getting more offensive snaps and opportunities on the offense. Jones describes it as a great feeling to see the young receiver make the comeback he has from his rookie season.
Will Brandin Cooks Get the Ball More?
On the other end, Jones was asked about McCarthy’s response when asked why Brandin Cooks isn’t getting the ball more.
Against Philadelphia, Cooks only had six total snaps and two targets in the game. Overall, he averages around four snaps per game.
On Monday, McCarthy said, “We play to the discipline of our quarterback. So I’d love to see everybody get the ball. But when you throw for 370+ yards, and you got to come in here and answer questions about someone not getting the ball, I mean, come on, I don’t think that’s a real evaluation.”
When Jones was asked what this meant, he said, in short, that the offense would play to the best of Prescott’s judgment of where the ball needs to go.
It seems that the front office doesn’t want to disrupt the flow between Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, which has been on the uphill this season.
Martavis Bryant’s Visit to The Star
Jones mentioned multiple times throughout the interview that the team was having Martavis Bryant visit The Star on Tuesday.
“I really like where we are at this stage in this season with the potential we’ve got of expanding the success of our receiving corps,” said Jones, who added, “We’ve got ways to move the football in my mind as to our talent level.”
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