Pre-Season Chatter Thread | Cowboys v Rams | 8/13/2016

Cotton

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Sucks about Green. Did that other tackle we signed play any?
 

Cotton

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At finishing time, Cowboys come up short
9:32 AM CT
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES -- Jason Garrett preaches the importance of winning the fourth quarter on almost a daily basis to his Dallas Cowboys.

With games so close every week, Garrett knows fourth quarter is the money quarter.

While Dak Prescott’s performance was the Cowboys’ biggest highlight Saturday, they still lost to the Los Angeles Rams, 28-24.

The Cowboys had a 24-14 lead after three quarters and gave up 14 points in the fourth quarter, including a 9-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Green with 1:54 to play.

“We didn’t play well enough in the second half,” Garrett said. “You don’t want to go down the road, ‘Ah, the different guys were playing and when we had these guys in ...’ We didn’t play well enough in the second half and we did a really nice job in the first half, building a lead and we didn’t play with enough edge as a football team in the second half and then we made mistakes. We got behind the chains because of penalties. We didn’t tackle well on a consistent basis. They were able to make some big plays. We had a couple penalties that extended their drives and gave them opportunities and so you put all that together and you’re not going to play the kind of ball that you want to play. Offensively, we did some good things but there were some dropped passes, some missed opportunities in regards to that. Just overall we didn’t play the way we needed to play. Didn’t respond well enough to the situations.”

Prescott was asked if he could have had a better start than his 10-of-12, 139-yard, two-touchdown performance after the game.

“Yeah, we could have won,” Prescott said. “First and foremost, I care about the team and the record at the end of the day. So it sucks to start off with a loss.”
 

Cotton

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If you mean Witzmann, he basically sucked. He was the only one that stood out to me on the OL and not in a good way.
Lovely.
 

Cotton

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Replay is on NFLN at 4PM EST.
Will be at the theater watching Suicide Squad. Man, I'm really sucking as a fan so far this year.
 

1bigfan13

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Are you serious about the 4th down thing? Was it just a situational mismanagement or did they really just think it was 3rd down?
I'm about 95% sure the players and coaches thought it was 4th down. Especially when you consider their reactions when the refs told them to get off the field so the Rams O can take over.
 

Cotton

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I'm about 95% sure the players and coaches thought it was 4th down. Especially when you consider their reactions when the refs told them to get off the field so the Rams O can take over.
That's peewee level shit right there.
 

boozeman

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Scout's Notebook: Lucky's Return, Andy Jones' Setback, Thornton's Power; More


Sunday, August 14, 2016 12:52 AM CDT

By Bryan Broaddus


Football Analyst/Scout



@BryanBroaddus


LOS ANGELES – At long last, the Cowboys have played a preseason game, and we’ve got some (sort of) real football to talk about.

It obviously wasn’t all pretty. The Cowboys lost the game, 28-24, and they didn’t score in the second half. But there was plenty of stuff to feel good about, and plenty of things we’ll have to talk about going forward.

For now, here are some of my top impressions from Saturday’s game against the Rams – the first NFL game back in Los Angeles in quite some time.


•It couldn't have been a better start for the Cowboys in this game than what they got from Lucky Whitehead on the kickoff return. When Whitehead settled under the ball, you could see the blocks start to develop in front of him. There were two blocks that I thought were key on the play -- Keith Smith was able to seal his man inside, which got Whitehead to the lane, and a double team block from James Morris and Rodney Coe broke him into the clear. I am sure when I study the tape, there are likely others -- but those two grabbed my attention.

•Gary Brown has been working hard with Alfred Morris to become more of a complete player -- especially with his blitz pickup. Early in camp, Morris far too many times would hit half-man or shoulder block, which would cause him to lose sustain on his man. This week we finally started to see Morris hit his man square and his results were better. During a play on the Cowboys’ opening driving, Morris picked up a blitzer square that gave Dak Prescott just enough time to find Dez Bryant for an 18-yard gain and a big first down to keep a drive going. If Morris doesn't execute that block, Prescott get hits and there’s no telling where the ball might end up.

•Terrance Williams continues to run outstanding routes in this camp. His touchdown catch was more about the route than it was the finish. His ability to move Lamarcus Joyner was textbook. He completely sold the "In," and that bought him the necessary space in order to get up the field. Once he got that separation, there was no way for Joyner to adjust back to him to defend the ball. It was a beautiful route with a ball by Prescott that was thrown in the perfect spot for Williams to adjust.

•Once we get home, I am interested to see the tape on how well Travis Frederick handled Michael Brockers. I got the feeling that Brockers got him off balance a couple of times in the running game -- especially when he had to make those reach blocks when the ball was moving to the edge. Brockers is a load to deal with when he is on the outside shoulder of the center and moving with the ball. He plays with so much power that he tends to compress the blocker into the backfield.

•I believe we are going to see more plays where Scott Linehan puts Cole Beasley on the move before the snap. I liked what he did on the 3rd-and-1, bringing him across the formation. It appeared to put Lamarcus Joyner on his heels and provide all the space Beasley needed to make the reception from Dak Prescott to get the first down.

•Cedric Thornton has a chance to be a special player in this defense. I can't begin to tell you how many times he came off the ball before the offensive line had a chance to react. His quickness and power are unique and ideal for this scheme. If they can get him and Terrell McClain going at that nose tackle spot, there is no question that it will help Tyrone Crawford and this pass rush, as well. Getting that push in the middle is what gives these quarterbacks the most problems and he can provide that.

•The question in the offseason was: how does this defense create more turnovers? You create those turnovers by pressuring the opposing quarterback. Rod Marinelli dialed up a blitz that even Jared Goff said caught him by surprise. Marinelli brought Barry Church and Derek Akunne off the left side. Church got picked up, but Akunne didn't. Akunne smashed into Goff as he was trying to deliver the ball. On impact, the ball fluttered out of Goff's hand and into the waiting arms of Mark Nzeocha -- who was able to finish the play.

•I counted three times where the Dallas defense was able to make a play to get off the field on third down – only for a penalty or coaching error to allow the Rams to extend their drives. Two of those errors came on the same series and the final one was a defensive holding by Arjen Colquhoun that resulted in a Rams touchdown.

•Rough night for Andy Jones and his attempt to make this squad. The coaches are trying to put him in position to make plays, whether it is at receiver or on special teams -- and he drew a blank. To be targeted three times and only come up with one catch is not where he needs to be. Jones also had a chance to play as a flyer on the outside for the punt team and missed a tackle that resulted in a sizable gain, as well.

•The Cowboys might have caught a break with Shaneil Jenkins. I spoke with people at the Broncos, and they told me that he looked good in OTAs and minicamps. But when the pads came on, he wasn't the same player -- some days that happens. What is interesting is that this staff is playing him inside instead of out, but it appears that they have found the right spot. He was a powerful player on college tape and that has carried over to the pro side. His sack of Jared Goff was an explosive move and finish off a twist stunt to drive the Rams out of field goal range before the half.

•Not sure why the coaching staff didn't burn a time out in that final 2:00 minute drive where Jameill Showers scrambled for 17 yards. They had three of them to use and the ball was now at their own 41. Give Showers a chance to catch his breath as well as his teammates. Call a play you feel good about and operate from there. Instead the clock went from 1:26 to 0:47 before Showers threw incomplete to Rod Smith. It just appeared to be a poor use of the timeouts and the clock.

•I have to admit: it was crazy to hear how loud this stadium was during those final moments of this game. I wasn't sure that these fans had it in them, but it was special to once again have professional football in this city even with the Cowboys came up on the short end. I just hope they fix the press box elevators before we once again return here.
 

Cotton

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You don't have DVR?

God damn, man.
Yeah, but I can't be bothered to search out the game and set it up. #fakefan
 

NoDak

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Yeah, but I can't be bothered to search out the game and set it up. #fakefan
Yeah, I could see where turning the channel to NFLN and hitting a button would be a pain in the ass.
 

1bigfan13

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Watching the halftime highlights of Blaine Gabbert drives home a point I made about Dak Prescott.

Gabbert was wildly inaccurate on quite a few throws that should have been easy completions Just like quite a few other young QBs this preseason. However, Dak was sharp on those easy throws.
 

dallen

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•The question in the offseason was: how does this defense create more turnovers? You create those turnovers by pressuring the opposing quarterback. Rod Marinelli dialed up a blitz that even Jared Goff said caught him by surprise. Marinelli brought Barry Church and Derek Akunne off the left side. Church got picked up, but Akunne didn't. Akunne smashed into Goff as he was trying to deliver the ball. On impact, the ball fluttered out of Goff's hand and into the waiting arms of Mark Nzeocha -- who was able to finish the play.
Our defensive schemes are so complex they are capable of confusing a rookie QB making his first preseason appearance!
 

Cotton

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Our defensive schemes are so complex they are capable of confusing a rookie QB making his first preseason appearance!
:lol
 

Cotton

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Cotton

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ravidubey

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The Cowboys lack of depth was on full display in the 2nd half.
Just like the 2014 preseason we knew the defense would suck going in.

It is going to come down to the offense dominating the other team, defensive hustle from young players, and the occasional choice play from Lee, Scandrick, Crawford, or Lawrence when he returns.

I know Thornton is a million times the enabler Hayden was, but he needs players around him to enable. Lee, Lawrence, Crawford... all were missing.

We need two of Russell, Irving, Collins, and Tapper to mature and prove their worth. I'm most excited about Collins, though his foot worries me.
 
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