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00:00Welcome back into in-game live game day here on SportsGrid.
00:24Brady Cannon and Cam Stewart with you.
00:26And on the weekends, we've been going through and previewing every NFL team prior to the season kicking off on September 4th when the Chiefs take on the Chargers.
00:37We are over into the NFC now, and we kicked off the NFC East last night with a preview of the Washington Commanders.
00:44Now we want to dive into those Dallas Cowboys, and Clarence Hill joins us.
00:48He is with the All-City Network, a Dallas Cowboys reporter for DLLS Sports in Dallas, Texas.
00:55Clarence, thank you so much for joining the program here.
00:58And I tell you, this has got to be a pretty fun job covering the Dallas Cowboys.
01:02Never a bold moment in Big D with that owner of yours, Jerry Jones.
01:07And boy, more controversy this year with Micah Parsons.
01:10You've got a new coach in Brian Schottenheimer.
01:12I tell you what, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
01:15There's really not a lot of turnover on this roster.
01:18I know we've got a new head coach and a new, you know, coordinators and all that type of thing.
01:23But a lot of the players remain the same on this roster.
01:26What is the feeling in camp, and what are your initial impressions out of the Dallas Cowboys?
01:31I want to push back on one thing.
01:33Fun is a relative term.
01:35Fun from the outside, yes.
01:37Yes.
01:38It's not your job every day to chronicle the goings-on, the drama.
01:43That's not always fun.
01:45But, yes, it keeps us interested.
01:48It keeps us talking about something.
01:50That's two different conversations, yes.
01:53They generate engagement.
01:56So that's what they do.
01:57It's not always fun because it's, you know, if you're a reporter, because they're always like seeing you coming.
02:02You know, it's like, you know, here you go again, you know, and stuff like that.
02:07But, you know, camp is camp.
02:08Camp is camp.
02:09They've been coming out of California, Oxnard running away from the temperatures of Texas
02:14to the cool weathers of Oxnard, California, to get prepared.
02:17You have a new coach, and Brian Schadenhauer is trying to, I guess, instill a different energy in the organization.
02:25But this is the Cowboys.
02:27You know, they haven't won.
02:28They haven't been to the Super Bowl since 1995, haven't been to the NFC Championship Games since the end of the 1995 season.
02:34It doesn't matter.
02:35What are you going to do in the playoffs?
02:36So you're going to break this drought, you know, a team that has rich tradition, five titles, you know, three in the 90s.
02:45We got generations of fans like my kids and people who were born after 1995 who've never seen the Cowboys be winners.
02:55I got to ask you there, Clarence, looking at camp, every team has kind of a surprise team guy.
03:01I'm a Seahawk fan, and I'm looking at the receiver, Horton, from Colorado State, who's an absolute stud but got hurt.
03:06Could have been a top 40 pick.
03:07He slips.
03:08What do you think, on the offensive side, what players are going to impress you that people maybe don't know about and what on the defensive side?
03:15Because every team has a couple gems in camp that could stay with the team and maybe do some damage.
03:21Well, you know, that's the problem with the Cowboys because it's a top-heavy team.
03:24They pay so much money.
03:25The depth is bad.
03:26If you watched them against the Rams last night, the depth is not good.
03:29You know, and I think that, number one, the guy that everybody's looking for, he may not be, I guess, an unsung hero, but I think Pickens coming to Dallas from Pittsburgh, Pickens, you know, it's a perfect fit.
03:45He and CeeDee Lamb and his offense, he, Dak, and CeeDee Lamb are going to cook, number one.
03:49They're going to cook on offense, and they're really excited about Pickens and what he can bring to this offense.
03:54Because defensively, their second-round pick, Ezraku, out of Boston College, when they get Mikey in there, they have a pretty good pass for us, for sure.
04:03Clarence, what about the running back room?
04:05You've got two out of the three guys that are already a little bit banged up.
04:08Javante Williams, they bring him in from Denver.
04:11He's the only guy that's currently healthy right now.
04:13They draft Jadon Blue out of Texas.
04:15He's got a problem with his heel.
04:17Miles Sanders, nursing an injury.
04:20Are these guys going to be ready for week one?
04:21Jonah, are you confident about this unit going into the season?
04:26I just want to let the record show that I told them, I said, I've been standing on the table,
04:31they should have gave Derrick Henry a call last year when they signed Zeke.
04:35And Derrick Henry lives in Dallas.
04:37Even though he's, you know, played in Tennessee, he lives in Dallas.
04:40He wanted to play for the Cowboys.
04:42He wanted the Cowboys to give him a call.
04:43His girlfriend, fiance, wife is from Dallas.
04:46They never gave Derrick Henry a call, and they're still struggling to get running back.
04:51Javante Williams most likely will be the starter, but this is not a special core of running backs.
04:56You look at Javante Williams, Jadon Blue will probably be a change-of-place guy.
05:00But outside of that, this is, you know, a pedestrian group of running backs.
05:04All right.
05:05He is Clarence Hill.
05:06You can find him with the All-City Network in Dallas, DLLS Sports, breaking down the Dallas Cowboys,
05:13who are projected to finish third in this division.
05:16The New York Giants bring up the rear as the big underdog.
05:19We will cover them later on in the program as well.
05:22The Philadelphia Eagles, the favorite there in the division.
05:25The second choice, the Washington Commanders, Dallas, better than 5-1 dogs to win the NFC East.
05:32Their win total is seven and a half games.
05:34We'll get Clarence's thoughts on that on the other side when we come back on In-Game Live Game Day.
05:40Welcome back into In-Game Live Game Day here on SportsGrid.
05:44Brady Cannon and Cam Stewart, and we've got Clarence Hill with us as we continue to break down the Dallas Cowboys for the 2025 NFL season.
05:53You can find him with the All-City Network in Dallas, DLLS Sports.
05:58And Clarence, they only won seven games in 2024, but a lot of things actually kind of went their way.
06:04They were positive in field goal games.
06:06They were 2-1.
06:07They were 5-5, 500 in one-score games.
06:11They were plus 14 in sack margin.
06:13You talked about that pass rush.
06:15We know about Micah Parsons.
06:16You know, they did a lot of things pretty well.
06:18Their win total in 2025 is seven and a half.
06:22Does that feel low to you?
06:23Does it feel attainable?
06:24Where do you kind of fall as far as, you know, the Vegas guys telling you that the Dallas Cowboys are going to win seven and a half games?
06:32You know, I've been telling people to hammer that.
06:34I think there should be more than seven and a half, but I was looking at it.
06:37Yeah, the win total by most Vegas odds is seven and a half.
06:42But if you go game by game, they're only favored to win six games.
06:46If you go, when you go to Vegas and look at their odds, in game by game, they're only favored to win six games, which to me, you know, they have a tough schedule.
06:53You know, certainly have a tough mid part of the schedule, but, you know, you got, I think, Kansas City and Detroit and Philly and the Vikings all right there together.
07:04You know, so they need to get off to a good start.
07:08When Dak has been healthy, when Dak has played a full complement of games, they have been a contender.
07:13They've won no less than nine games, you know, and they've, you know, pretty much made the playoffs.
07:19And if Dak is healthy, I think they kill the seven and a half.
07:22But again, there are still concerns on this team, especially on this defense, without Micah Parsons.
07:28They're not a good team without Micah Parsons.
07:30Their defense, you look at the numbers, you guys get into the numbers, but look at this defense without Parsons.
07:34They need to get him signed.
07:35They need to get him canned because they cannot get off to a slow start.
07:39They have a hell of a schedule in the middle in November and December.
07:45They need to get off to a good start, and they need Micah Parsons on the field to do that.
07:49You're right, Clarence, and they open up against the Eagles, too.
07:52That's like, bam, like right out of the gate, you're playing the Super Bowl champs who annihilated the Kansas City Chiefs.
07:57Tell me, Clarence, the strength of the team used to be the offensive line.
08:01We know the Dallas Cowboys, every single one of those guys, they're killers.
08:04And Dak Prescott, if you give him time, let's remember, too, at Mississippi State, this guy shreds people.
08:09You give Dak time, he can beat you down.
08:11But how is that offensive line right now?
08:13I know they've had injuries, a couple guys long in the tooth, older guys.
08:17But do you think they can hold up?
08:19Because if they do, I'm with you.
08:20I'm definitely on the Dallas over this year for wins.
08:24Yeah, that's one of the biggest questions, one of the areas that they tried to address in the offseason.
08:28When the Cowboys were great, they had like three or four top offensive linemen.
08:32I'm talking about some of the tops in the league.
08:34When you look at Zach Martin and Tyron Smith and those guys and Travis Frederick, I mean, they had three or four Pro Bowls.
08:44Even going back to the 90s, those Super Bowl teams were built by the great wall of Dallas, the offensive line.
08:49And right now, they only have one special player up front that's Tyler Smith.
08:52You know, he has a chance to be a generational type player.
08:55He's a pro-bowl, all-pro guy.
08:56He's a left guard.
08:57Everybody else, you know, a young question mark.
08:59Certainly, they spent a first-round pick on Tyler Booker out of Alabama.
09:03And they really like him.
09:05He's going to replace Zach Martin.
09:07But everywhere else, you know, they like Cooper B.B. at center.
09:09But everybody else is guys who need to prove some of their question mark.
09:12And so, you know, their left tackle, Tyler Guyton out of Oklahoma, first-round pick out of Oklahoma last year.
09:19He had a horrible rookie season.
09:21This was a big year, big training camp for him.
09:23He, early in camp, you know, he suffers an injury.
09:27Now he's out four weeks.
09:28He might not even be there for the season opener.
09:31And they're going with a seven-round pick.
09:32Nate Thomas out of University of Louisiana is their left tackle right now, Dak Prescott, protecting Dak Prescott's blind side.
09:39So, yeah, the offensive line is huge.
09:41But the strength of this team is Dak and those receivers.
09:44You know, if Dak gets some time, I think that they will be able to make some plays with CD and George picking.
09:49And, you know, hopefully that will open up the run game because people cannot double Dak.
09:54I mean, they can't double CD and George pickets.
09:58Clarence, you mentioned Micah Parsons.
10:00And, of course, that's maybe the biggest story in Dallas right now and his unhappiness there and the little battle he's got going with the owner.
10:06You know, in your heart of hearts, do you feel that they're going to find a way to get this done?
10:11Or are you worried about this guy suiting up for the Cowboys in this season?
10:16They always get it done.
10:18They always last minute.
10:20They always get it done.
10:21They never not sign the player they wanted to keep, whether it's Dak, whether it's CD.
10:28They always get it done.
10:31They sign the players they want.
10:34And certainly I think they're going to get it done.
10:36My question, my issue is you wait until the last minute to get it done.
10:41You wait until he's missed all the training, all the preseason.
10:44You're asking for him to have a soft tissue injury early in the season and set yourselves back.
10:50You know, you need Micah full goal against the Eagles.
10:53You need everybody ready to go.
10:55The problem is they always get it done, which is why Jerry's really not worried about it, because they always sign their guys.
11:00But is this the right way, the right environment to prepare your team for the season?
11:06You've got a new coach.
11:07You know, you've got some questions.
11:09You want everybody hitting on all cylinders.
11:11And this is not how you prepare a team.
11:15Clarence, I've got to ask you, too.
11:16I know Brady mentioned earlier about the running back situation.
11:19But I really like the draft pick of Blue.
11:21I think he was absolutely fantastic with the Texas Longhorns.
11:24He's an absolute stud.
11:25Made me hurt now.
11:26But from a fantasy slash production, from that angle, do you think he'll be the clear number one bell cow on this team?
11:33Or do you think it's going to be a running back by committee?
11:36Do you think Blue can take this thing over, win healthy, early?
11:38And do you think he can be explosive like he was with the Longhorns?
11:41No, I mean, I think he's going to be explosive.
11:44Again, he's more of a change of pace guy.
11:45I would compare him to Tony Pollard early in his career.
11:48You know, Javante Williams most likely will be the starter.
11:51They want to, you know, hopefully they'll get Miles Sanders back.
11:53But Blue will be a guy to use on third down.
11:56He has four three speed.
11:57They want to get the ball to him out of the backfield.
11:59They will do some things.
12:00He's going to be explosive.
12:01He's going to give a chance to make some plays.
12:02But definitely he's not.
12:03He wasn't a bell cow in college.
12:05He's never been a bell cow going back to high school.
12:08So I can't see them making him a bell cow type back.
12:12He's more of a change of pace back.
12:13Certainly they want to get in the ball.
12:15He's explosive.
12:16But Javante Williams, you know, maybe Miles Sanders,
12:19they're going to have a group of backs get the ball.
12:21But they want to get the ball in Blue's hands for sure.
12:25Clarence, obviously the coaching staff here has had some success in the past.
12:28Brian Schottenheimer comes from a legendary coaching family.
12:32Matt Eberflus had some success running the defense for the Indianapolis Colts,
12:36not as much for the Chicago Bears.
12:37But what are your expectations for this new tandem in Dallas here?
12:42Schottenheimer and Eberflus running the defense.
12:45Man, they're great guys.
12:47You know, and I like Shottie.
12:48I remember covering Shottie in high school when he was in Kansas City.
12:51When he was up there with Marty.
12:52My first job out of college was in Kansas City.
12:55The Kansas City started covering high schools.
12:57He won a state championship.
12:58Great guys.
12:59You know, he's trying to do the right thing.
13:01Certainly he's a lifer.
13:02He's been around this game.
13:03But tell me, do you think they win the coaching box?
13:08Do you think, and I like Eberflus is a good coach, but no one's confusing it with Dan Quinn, right?
13:14And no one's confusing it with Vic Fangio.
13:17Solid coaches.
13:18You know, but I don't think that they, you know, are head and heels.
13:21They're coaching acumen is going to put the Cowboys over the top.
13:31Cam, you got anything else?
13:32Go ahead.
13:33No, I was just going to say other, could anybody dethrone Philadelphia, Clarence?
13:37Or is it going to be a cakewalk for the Eagles?
13:39That's just, that's just, that's just it.
13:41Let me finish this.
13:42I know we got whatever break.
13:44No one has repeated in the NFC East since 2004.
13:48Okay?
13:48The Eagles have been to the Super Bowl before, have brought everybody back, and the Cowboys won the next year.
13:56The Cowboys have won titles, won division titles.
13:59The Eagles are watching one next year.
14:01No one's defending.
14:02So something always happens.
14:04So, yes, on paper, the Eagles should be head and shoulder.
14:06They should win it again.
14:07But that has not happened since 2004 for whatever reason.
14:11You know, when the Cowboys were dominant, I remember one year they went undefeated in the Seas.
14:15One year, the next year, the Eagles won it.
14:17They didn't win it the next year.
14:19So, and they brought everybody back.
14:20So, it's football.
14:22That's why you play the game.
14:23But, yes, on paper, the Eagles should win.
14:25But no one in the NFC East, even when the Eagles have gone to the Super Bowl and won the Super Bowl, did they repeat?
14:32Yeah.
14:33No, I hear you.
14:34We've only got about 20 seconds left, Clarence.
14:36If you're going to bet on who's going to win the division, who's it going to be?
14:39Well, bet on the Eagles.
14:42But that's why Vegas always wins, right?
14:52But we're going to bet on the Eagles.
14:53But we already know it hasn't happened since 2004.
14:57It's Clarence Hill of the All-City Network in Dallas, Texas.
15:01Thank you so much, my man.
15:02We'll be back with more in just a moment, right here on The Grid.
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