Friday Mailbag returns, August 18th edition

20 questions about anything you want to ask me - but, mostly Cowboys.

As I write this, I am resting between lifting, packing, driving, and delivering my son and his belongings to his new home in Stillwater, Oklahoma as he is off to college. Despite the fact that our emotions are raw about that “season of life,” I think I can answer 20 questions so that we end the week properly here at SturmStack.

Let’s find out:

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1. From Richard: I find myself a bit bothered by the way that Micah Parsons talks about Dak publicly (or doesn't talk about him). It is like he purposely tries to avoid saying anything bad, but in a way that communicates that he's tepid. I have my own theory about this. I don't think it's because he lacks confidence in Dak as a QB. I think it's because he likes the emphasis placed on the defense, and especially on HIMSELF (he likes the spotlight, and doesn't really want to kill the idea that if the team does well, he will deserve the lion's share (no pun intended) of the credit). What do you say?

As someone who has had two or three chances to sit down with Micah Parsons over the years, allow me to just interject something right at the top:

Micah is a bit of a strange dude.

I don’t mean that in any sort of negative or even positive way, but when you talk to 100 professional athletes, 98 of them will sort of run together in a “they are all kinda similar” sort of way. And then one or two of them will come across as different. That is Micah Parsons.

Parsons will give you answers you don’t anticipate, looks that seem to let you know that he can see inside your head, and expressions where you cannot quite tell if he is joking or serious. None of this should be considered an insult. Just know that those who know him will tell you he operates differently. And, as the kids say, he is a lot. He is intense, he is present, and he never, ever, appears to blend in. He is wired to always be “on” and that can be exhausting to those in his vicinity.

Why did I tell you all of that? To try to offer context to everything he says. You literally cannot tell if he is doing bits or being dead serious. So, when he answers questions about Dak Prescott, I don’t read too much into his answers that may suggest they are not as close as it gets. Some dudes on defense consider the offense their enemy, even though they wear the same colors.

Micah is one of them and it works most of the time for him. Also, I will say that Micah does appear pretty interested in what everyone thinks about him. He closely monitors social media and those national talk shows.

That may not be a big deal now, but please know where this sometimes leads and the trouble that can emerge as his career matures. When it is contract time, I think there is potential for Parsons to want it all and who can blame him? But, at that time, it will be interesting if he ever has to choose between more money and staying with the Cowboys. I know there is a lot there, but you have asked me about a guy I think about quite a bit. Like Luka Doncic, I’m uncertain about how much of his career we will get here in Dallas.

2. From Jeff: Any resources for understanding what the heck is going on during a hockey game? Love the Stars and have watched hundreds of games, but I never played and feel like I don't even understand line changes.

Jeff, there are three books that I often recommend to people on this front. Hockey is a beautiful game and like football, it gets better when you understand what is happening for each particular player and role. So here they are, even though some might be too basic:

1. Hockey for Dummies and Coaching Hockey for Dummies - are two books from that old series which really start at square one and talk about the basics of this sport and slowly ramp you up into knowing tactics and strategies for a team sport at the early levels. Quite useful for casual viewers.

2. Take Your Eyes Off the Puck - is a takeoff of one of the best football books I love, Take Your Eyes Off the Ball by Pat Kirwan, which I also recommend. These books go deeper and will educate you even more into all the various responsibilities for each position, each special team, each sector of the ice, etc. Also very good and useful.

3. Of Ice and Men - if you are still looking for good stuff beyond the text books, here is one I recall that went into amazing details on players at the time who were at the top of the game. One anecdote I still remember is Steve Yzerman retelling stories about how he would win face-offs by watching the knuckles of the linesman to reveal when he was about to drop the puck. The color of their knuckles would gain redness and that would signify the grip on the puck was loosening, therefore the puck was falling. If that is even close to true, I am amazed.

Those three will keep you busy. Trust me, you will love knowing more about hockey so your enjoyment and understanding will improve for next season.

3. From Eric Smith: What’s the over/under on points for Luton Town this year? I don’t have them hitting 19 like Sunderland did in 02-03 but maybe 25? Thoughts?

For those unfamiliar with this topic, Luton Town is the team most likely to relegated this year out of the 20-year team Premier League.

Three teams go back down a level each season and Luton Town is thought to be 20th out of 20. Forty points is the traditional safety zone, but I think we have seen that 36 or so is the magic number to “stay up” as the 17th best team (or better).

Luton Town is almost assuredly unable to do that and as Eric says, mid 20’s is about right. I will take 23 points as my guess for Luton Town. The oddsmakers projected Sheffield United, Wolves, and Everton as the other three clubs fighting to avoid those final two relegation spots.

4. From Prescott Williamson: What is the likelihood we sign a veteran running back even after cuts assuming none of our guys get hurt?

I believe their current satisfaction with their current roster is rather high, so I would estimate the likelihood as relatively low. In my assessment, the trio comprising Tony Pollard, Deuce Vaughn, and the eventual victor between Malik Davis and Rico Dowdle will constitute their primary options. Although Ronald Jones remains on the fringes, it's noteworthy that they previously had the opportunity to acquire Dalvin Cook but chose not to. This historical context informs my perspective.

Looking ahead, my foremost query pertaining to the Dallas running back situation pertains to their 2024 strategy. It's difficult for me to envision an extension being granted to Tony Pollard. Consequently, the question looms: who will assume the mantle of the lead back? As things stand, I am inclined to believe that this individual is not presently part of the roster. In fact, I dare say that they might presently be participating in college football.

5. From derland@dbahrcpa.com: Obviously, offensive line depth seems to be one of the Cowboys (and many teams) biggest concerns. Who are the backup offensive linemen you feel most optimistic about, if any?

This concern permeates throughout the league. Teams no longer hold a sense of confidence in their seventh or eighth offensive lineman, and this is precisely why front-line injuries have such a detrimental impact. The scarcity of proficient linemen becomes glaringly evident, and it feels as if we reiterate this predicament annually.

In my estimation, Chuma Edoga's performance leaves much to be desired, and had I held authority in 2022, I would have advocated for Josh Ball's release. Matt Waletzko still appears to be a work in progress. While Matt Farniok exhibits sporadic moments of prowess, the more extensive his presence, the more one yearns for him to retreat to the sidelines. There exists a sense of optimism regarding Asim Richards, with the anticipation that his proficiency will solidify in the near future; however, it's important to acknowledge his relative youthfulness. Notably, Brock Hoffman has garnered considerable commendation from the coaching staff. The options are undeniably limited.

It's worth mentioning that there appears to be an uptick in Josh Ball's performance when positioned as a guard, as opposed to his tenure as a tackle. Consequently, I'm inclined to provide him with a fresh slate rather than prematurely categorizing him for the chopping block. Nevertheless, it's undeniable that the available options leave much to be desired, Derland.

6. From Todd St John: How do you feel about the backup QB situation? I'm feeling Rush is a QB3 and Grier is a non entity.

I believe that in 2022, Cooper Rush secured the 2023 backup quarterback position by capably stepping into the role of QB1 for over a month during Dak Prescott's absence due to injury. While his performance wasn't flashy, it was commendable for its absence of critical errors. Admittedly, I view Rush as having significant limitations and a defined skill set. However, his five consecutive starts served to establish a certain level of credibility for him as the QB2. If those starts did not bolster his standing, it's doubtful that anything else could.

Will Grier, on the other hand, struggles with pronounced inaccuracy and inconsistency, leading me to question his suitability. As we peer into the horizon, the pursuit of a promising young prospect seems to have stagnated. While I don't hold an enthusiastic sentiment about the current situation, I find solace in the notion that Rush will adequately suffice for the time being.

7. From M-Ho May be a little early for this, but where would you rank the Rangers playoff rotation (Scherzer/Eovaldi/Montgomery/Gray) compared to the other AL contenders? Does Dane Dunning deserve a spot over Montgomery or Gray? I suppose he is the fallback if Eovaldi can't make it back.

I imagine Scherzer and Eovaldi are the no-brainers up front and Gray would be my pick for No. 3. I assume they traded for Montgomery because they thought he was perfect for that additional spot, but Dunning has been so good in the last six weeks that this is a “TBD” situation for me. Heck, Andrew Heaney is also deserving of some love here.

The Rangers rotation has been probably the reason they are in this spot in 2023. I think they are terribly underrated league wide and formidable against any opponent in the post-season. In other words, they are in pretty decent shape if Eovaldi returns to his form of pre-layoff.

8. From Michael Hicks: Posted in another thread but am wondering: how good was Dallas’s pass rush last season in terms of getting the ball back (either directly causing a turnover or a sack on that set of downs leading to a punt before a first down)?

The Cowboys' pass rush exhibited remarkable prowess, culminating in a formidable 3rd-place standing in terms of sacks, and even more notably, higher rankings in various other pertinent metrics. Notably, they clinched the 1st position in both forced fumbles and fumbles recovered, as well as total takeaways. While I didn't delve deeply into the specifics of sacks leading to punts, it's worth noting that the Cowboys hold a prominent position on any roster of teams that evoke trepidation among quarterbacks. This heightened level of apprehension can be largely attributed to the imposing presence of Micah Parsons and his cohorts, a force that has cast a palpable sense of unease across the entire NFL.

There is no question they have the attention of the entire league and there were games last year where the opposing QB wanted nothing to do with that pass rush, right Kirk Cousins?

9. From Blair: Who are our best backup offensive linemen, and which positions can he/they competently play? Are we considering Tyron Smith a depth or reserve piece at this point?

The first part was answered above on question 5.

Based on my observations, I anticipate Asim Richards to function as the versatile swing tackle, while Matt Farniok, Josh Ball, and Brock Hoffman are poised to occupy interior roles.

However, if your aim is to challenge the notion of Tyron Smith being relegated to a depth or reserve role, you've come to the wrong place. While he may no longer mirror his past self, anyone asserting that he is not the most adept left tackle option at your disposal is in direct discord with my perspective. My stance remains resolute: Tyron Smith remains my premier choice for the left tackle position, until a considerable dip in his performance materializes. His proficiency remains noteworthy, and Tyler Smith can seamlessly transition to guard without compromising his effectiveness. To reiterate, Tyron's role as the starting left tackle remains steadfast in my judgment.

10. From David: What do you think about the recent RB deals for Ezekiel Elliot and Dalvin Cook? For $4mil would you bring in for example, a Kareem Hunt to backup Pollard? Any other RBs out there you like for us?

I think all of those deals are coming in pretty low. The money appears to be about the veteran minimum plus incentives from what I have seen. So, with that in mind, I would be in on Kareem Hunt at those prices.

Hunt is an excellent pass receiver out of the backfield. But, I don’t sense the Cowboys are interested, given they didn’t move on Dalvin Cook. Trust me, Mike McCarthy is an expert on Vikings players, as we saw last year with Anthony Barr, and the year before with Everson Griffin. If Mike didn’t want Dalvin Cook and Jerry Jones didn’t get Zeke back at those prices, I guess they think they are just fine at RB.

11. From Kyle S: The biggest areas of concern for the Cowboys seem pretty clear to me: Swing Tackle and Kicker. Other than that, I feel confident that with health and better YAC plays, this may be the best team we've assembled in recent memory. If you agree with my "biggest team needs", how soon do you think the team will bring in two veterans?

I must express my bewilderment regarding the Cowboys' approach to their kicker position. The decision-making appears baffling to me. Greg Zuerlein, with a reasonable contract spanning from 2020 to 2022, was inexplicably released prior to the 2022 season without any apparent logical rationale. This move ostensibly saved a mere $2 million against the cap, an amount overshadowed by the expenditure that's incurred when engaging another kicker. This sequence of events strikes me as utterly nonsensical.

Adding to the puzzlement, Zuerlein promptly found success in New York, exhibiting commendable kicking performance. In his stead, the Cowboys appointed Brett Maher, a player who was let go in 2019 due to mental challenges affecting his performance. Perplexingly, someone within the organization advocated for his return in 2022, only to reaffirm his struggles with the same mental hurdles.

These games are often decided by the slimmest of margins, and the role of a reliable kicker holds immense significance. It's confounding that a capable kicker was jettisoned for the sake of an $800k saving. Consequently, the current situation seems to lack a viable kicker altogether, yielding a sense of incredulity.

On a different note, I'm inclined to appreciate the idea of Asim Richards as the swing tackle. My reasoning stems from the prospect that if the primary tackle is sidelined for an extended period, Tyler Smith could potentially fill the swing tackle role. While there might be room for improvement in the swing guard position, it's worth acknowledging that this team, as you aptly noted, boasts considerable depth and is endowed with an abundance of talent.

12. From MDellinger: On a scale of 1-10...how hot is McCarthy's seat? What outcome this year would put him squarely "on the bubble" (missing playoffs, another early exit, etc.)? I initially thought about asking who's seat is hotter, Dak or MM...but I think I know the answer to that. :-)

I would say it is hot. Lets say a nice 7.

I think we can easily be looking at the last year of his administration if they finish well under expectations. There is no reason this team should not return to the NFC playoffs because it is hard to find seven good NFC teams, in general.

We have said we believe this team is loaded up and expectations are nice and high. McCarthy is taking full responsibility for the offense and things are well in place. If they have a losing record, I can see the Cowboys making a change because McCarthy’s contract is only through 2024. There has been no extension offered or discussed, to my knowledge. Its a big year for sure, but as I often say, they are all big when you coach in the NFL.

13. From Kevin Robbins: I’m curious on your thoughts regarding Liverpool’s pursuit (disappointing so far) of more quality midfielders. But.... maybe that’s just me 😏

I have many.

Liverpool is possibly my strongest fandom in my life (which may cause some surprise to those who aren’t aware) and I am absolutely obsessed with them. I spend more time thinking about, reading about, and watching Liverpool than I do any of my Wisconsin teams. I think it is because it feels detached from my job(s) and I can just enjoy.

Anyway, the current transfer saga where they have been undermanned in the midfield for a couple years. They have been loyal to a fault to guys who helped them win their recent trophies – 2019 Champions League, 2020 Premier League – and they got old and tired fast.

Now, with Saudi Arabia picking off many old players, they have an excuse to reimagine their midfield and jump right back into contention. The trouble is that they have never had the money that their biggest rivals have had: Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea. In fact, they are much closer to Arsenal and Tottenham in terms of budgets and buying players where they usually must sell first and use that money to buy others.

Regardless, the last few weeks have been madness and they are still scrambling. Liverpool is a very good side with a very big weakness. I won’t try to claim I know much about 30-year old Wataru Endo, but everyone seems to think he is ultimately a stop-gap and they still need to purchase their next foundational piece in the defensive midfield. On the other hand, the two offensive midfielders they have in this year, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominic Szoboszlai both appear to be real studs and a breath of fresh optimism.

14. From Austin A: Thoughts on iDL for the 53 man roster? Does Bohanna make the 53 with Mazi and Hankins serving a similar role? Does Mazi’s athleticism allow you to keep two other true NTs on the roster?

I believe the Cowboys have executed commendably in this aspect. Mazi Smith, Quinton Bohanna, and Johnathan Hankins each possess the capability to excel on the interior. However, the question arises: Can all three coexist on the roster? There's a possibility that they'll endeavor to make it work. Initially, Bohanna appeared to be the odd man out following Mazi's draft selection, but his performance in this camp has been remarkably consistent. Meanwhile, Hankins stands as a reliable and experienced veteran, potentially subject to a strategic release and subsequent re-signing aimed at financial gains, although the team values his contributions.

The inclination to retain all three might stem from the challenges encountered last season, particularly towards the latter part, when the team grappled with defensive vulnerabilities in the middle against the run. Consequently, the Cowboys may be inclined to bolster their roster with this trio to fortify their run defense and mitigate the shortcomings that plagued them in the past.

15. From Matthew Berke Bob, Jerry implied Dak will reduce how many progressions he goes through; will dump off quicker. Why was that necessary change? WRs? Or does Dak have some flaw whereby going through many progressions forces bad decisions?

I think we should understand that Jerry does not know ball very well, full stop.

Most of what he says sounds like he hasn’t watched much film in the last few decades, but he still can’t shut his mouth about it.

I know that Dak needs to get the ball out quicker to help find bigger YAC plays and if we were to concede weaknesses in Dak’s game, we would probably admit that the longer a play goes where he is holding the ball, the less likely we are to find great solutions in the “street ball” portion of the play.

He works well in structure and I think all involved want him to see it and get it to a playmaker in space. But, the changes to the offense are about so many bigger reasons than any sort of Prescott deficiency, despite the fun debates the debate shows get to perform.

16. From lilwrangler Does Zeke get booed Week #4?

No. I don’t see it at all. He did nothing wrong.

Zeke was a good teammate and fought hard for the Cowboys. In the end, his explosiveness was gone and he was blocking a better player in Tony Pollard and had a millstone contract. I don’t see either of those things to be his fault and I wish him well. But, it is pretty cool that one of his first games will be against the Dallas defense. That should get the people going.

17. From Chuck Mallott: Hey Bob, would love to know your rooting interests in F1 and/or overall thoughts about F1 action. Is this a safe place for that topic?

I am F1 friendly, but I do admit it might have just been a fad from 2020-2022 for me as my 2023 viewing has faded.

I started rooting for McLaren, maybe that is my issue, but overall, I just can’t believe how compelling a sport seems. The actual race is not competitive unless you fixate on “the midfield battles,” because the race up front is such a Red Bull and Max Verstappen rout that begins with “lights out and away we go!”

But, honestly, the entire F1 world is wonderful and the tracks and tour and logistics and personalities are interesting. But, they have to make the race itself more compelling than a weekly win of at least 30 seconds by Max. That just won’t hold me with so much weekend sports competition.

And yes, ask me anything in these mailbags!

18. From Trevor Palagonia: what is the one thing that most concerns you and that would prevent the cowboys from contending this year? (I would say the offensive line’s health)

I concur with your assessment. The prospect of significant injuries affecting the offensive line is undeniably worrisome. Equally imperative is the well-being of Micah Parsons, whose playing style appears to carry inherent risks, given his propensity to consistently flirt with the precipice of injury. Your optimism is well-founded, and I share your perspective that the upcoming year, 2023, presents a genuine opportunity for the team. Their roster appears robust and well-equipped, setting the stage for a year of promise and potential success.

But, to the rest of your note that was way too long to publish, I would encourage any Cowboys fan in their mid 20’s like you to just try to enjoy the journey and not obsess with the general feeling that this team is always going to ruin your football fun. There are enough of us old people to have that attitude that maybe the fanbase could use an influx of optimists that don’t hold the last 30 years all against a current team that wasn’t even born in 1995. Enjoy the team and let the past be the past.

19. From Thad Machnikowski: Do you think MM will be a better play caller than KM? And what will actually define better? Better stats (tough to do) or just better in situational situations? How will we measure it?

Stats should not matter to this team. They have had great offensive stats for years and it hasn’t mattered. The only way MM can better KM is by pushing this team further after Thanksgiving.

In 2021 and 2022, a very good Cowboys team started fading around Thanksgiving and never really looked the same before their eventual demise to San Francisco each year.

If Mike can have this team running the ball when they want and having solutions in the passing game and not having his QB look like he has lost his swagger when the season matters most, he will be a success. A repeat of the last two years with the same fade and crash would be a failure. Stats shouldn’t matter much.

20. From Charlie Green: Corey Seager for MVP? Are they not a totally different team when he is in the lineup?

We will end with Charlie because we have managed to go 4,000 words again. I think Seager is incredible and plan on writing a piece all about him soon. He is absolutely one of the best hitters I have ever seen and I certainly concede that anyone who signs a 10 year/$325 million contract is not underrated or unknown, but holy heck, I had no idea he was this good and I do wonder if we are making a big enough deal about how good he is.

When is the last time you saw anyone in this town wearing anything with his name on it? The Doncic gear has him outnumbered 100-to-1, right? Dak Prescott gear, Dez Bryant gear, Jamie Benn gear, and Dirk gear can all be seen on a given summer day around here. But, where is one Corey Seager shirt? He is not winning any MVP with two long absences and Shohei Ohtani living and breathing, but he has been worth every penny of his contract. He is definitely as good at his craft as anyone in this city on this side of Doncic and Parsons right now. Incredible player.

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Ok, thank you for your questions and for reading. Brief reminder that I want to make sure everyone gets a turn in these, but 20 is probably as many as I can get to, so I try to spread out the topics at least. Also, starting in September, all the questions will be selected from paid subscribers because I want to offer them nice features like this to thank them for their patronage.

Anyway, have a nice weekend and be on the lookout for a bonus Saturday piece for you soccer enthusiasts tomorrow.