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Good, Bad, Ugly: Final word on Cowboys' premier preseason performance
: C.C. Boorman | 2 hours ago
It seemed like the preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers would end up being a Cowboys win, but a late fourth quarter implosion by the Dallas defense led to a disappointing 24-21 loss.
The first half of the game looked promising for the Dallas defense, but familiar struggles reared their ugly head late in the contest. Here are the best and worst from the last night’s game in Santa Clara.
The Good:
Offensive consistency
The decision to play several top-line starters for several series to start the game may have caused a few nervous moments for fans, but the players not only came out unscathed, but they also excelled. Quarterback Dak Prescott looked sharp, completing all three throws with a TD and posting a 158.3 QB rating. Rookie WR Michael Gallup made his first NFL catch and scored a touchdown on the same play.
While Ezekiel Elliott was rested, his running backups, Rod Smith and especially Bo Scarbrough, ran well, mostly behind a modest OL in front of them.
The Cowboys Defensive Line
The team has a deep line on paper and it showed in the game. Although they did not record a sack of a Niners signal caller, Marinelli’s 2018 edition of the “Rushmen” acquitted themselves reasonably well. DeMarcus Lawrence registered a QB hit and looks ready to carry over his monstrous performance from last season.
Taco Charlton was active versus 49ers top pick Mike McGlinchey, Jihad Ward recorded a pass deflection and Brian Price chipped in five tackles, including three solos.
Surprise starter Antwaun Woods in particular pushed the middle with regularity and Dorance Armstrong made several appearances in the offensive backfield.
Armstrong finished with three tackles and several pressures. Woods did not record a stat, but made his presence felt. Charles Tapper entered the game in the third quarter, forced and scooped up a fumble.
Forcing Turnovers
Turnovers have been elusive during the Rod Marinelli era, but the two interceptions plus a fumble recovery was a good start for the 2018 incarnation of the defense. Ten pass defenses showed that a lot of the drill work has registered with a young unit.
The Bad
Chaz Green
The hope out of Cowboys camp was that Green had been able to the disaster from Atlanta last year behind him and was preparing to battle for the swing tackle job against free-agent acquisition Cameron Fleming.
Unfortunately for Green, a familiar look popped up in Santa Clara.
Julian Taylor has a lot of promise, but blocking like this against a seventh-round rookie simply will not cut the mustard in the NFL. He drew the flag and rightfully so. He had several other sloppy efforts particularly handling speed-to-power transitions and really did not show he is ready to erase some bad memories.
The Ugly
The deep depth in the secondary
Yes, these were the third, fourth and even fifth-string corners and safeties playing late in the game, but seeing the group get shredded with the game hanging in the balance was disappointing.
The Cowboys D had no answers for Richie James, an unheralded seventh-round pick. Operating mostly out of the slot, James recorded four grabs for 42 yards, including the game-clinching touchdown.
49ers backup Nick Mullens hit on all six passes for 69 yards on a 77-yard drive that took under two minutes. The alarming part was that not one of the youngsters he victimized could step up with the contest on the line. Marquez White, Charvarius Ward, Donovan Olumba, Jameill Showers and Tyree Robinson probably wish they could have this drive back. All have had their moments in Oxnard but will likely get some hammering from Kris Richard in film sessions and as they return to practice this weekend.
: C.C. Boorman | 2 hours ago
It seemed like the preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers would end up being a Cowboys win, but a late fourth quarter implosion by the Dallas defense led to a disappointing 24-21 loss.
The first half of the game looked promising for the Dallas defense, but familiar struggles reared their ugly head late in the contest. Here are the best and worst from the last night’s game in Santa Clara.
The Good:
Offensive consistency
The decision to play several top-line starters for several series to start the game may have caused a few nervous moments for fans, but the players not only came out unscathed, but they also excelled. Quarterback Dak Prescott looked sharp, completing all three throws with a TD and posting a 158.3 QB rating. Rookie WR Michael Gallup made his first NFL catch and scored a touchdown on the same play.
While Ezekiel Elliott was rested, his running backups, Rod Smith and especially Bo Scarbrough, ran well, mostly behind a modest OL in front of them.
The Cowboys Defensive Line
The team has a deep line on paper and it showed in the game. Although they did not record a sack of a Niners signal caller, Marinelli’s 2018 edition of the “Rushmen” acquitted themselves reasonably well. DeMarcus Lawrence registered a QB hit and looks ready to carry over his monstrous performance from last season.
Taco Charlton was active versus 49ers top pick Mike McGlinchey, Jihad Ward recorded a pass deflection and Brian Price chipped in five tackles, including three solos.
Surprise starter Antwaun Woods in particular pushed the middle with regularity and Dorance Armstrong made several appearances in the offensive backfield.
Armstrong finished with three tackles and several pressures. Woods did not record a stat, but made his presence felt. Charles Tapper entered the game in the third quarter, forced and scooped up a fumble.
Forcing Turnovers
Turnovers have been elusive during the Rod Marinelli era, but the two interceptions plus a fumble recovery was a good start for the 2018 incarnation of the defense. Ten pass defenses showed that a lot of the drill work has registered with a young unit.
The Bad
Chaz Green
The hope out of Cowboys camp was that Green had been able to the disaster from Atlanta last year behind him and was preparing to battle for the swing tackle job against free-agent acquisition Cameron Fleming.
Unfortunately for Green, a familiar look popped up in Santa Clara.
Julian Taylor has a lot of promise, but blocking like this against a seventh-round rookie simply will not cut the mustard in the NFL. He drew the flag and rightfully so. He had several other sloppy efforts particularly handling speed-to-power transitions and really did not show he is ready to erase some bad memories.
The Ugly
The deep depth in the secondary
Yes, these were the third, fourth and even fifth-string corners and safeties playing late in the game, but seeing the group get shredded with the game hanging in the balance was disappointing.
The Cowboys D had no answers for Richie James, an unheralded seventh-round pick. Operating mostly out of the slot, James recorded four grabs for 42 yards, including the game-clinching touchdown.
49ers backup Nick Mullens hit on all six passes for 69 yards on a 77-yard drive that took under two minutes. The alarming part was that not one of the youngsters he victimized could step up with the contest on the line. Marquez White, Charvarius Ward, Donovan Olumba, Jameill Showers and Tyree Robinson probably wish they could have this drive back. All have had their moments in Oxnard but will likely get some hammering from Kris Richard in film sessions and as they return to practice this weekend.