2026 Cowboys Preseason Week 1 Gameday Chatter Thread | Cowboys @ Seahawks | 08/15/2026

[Cowboysrock55]

Maybe so. But we're talking about the way Jerry's brain thinks.

That's because Jerry looks at it from an incorrect cost/benefit analysis. He views it as, worst case scenario I loose my player for the year. Best base scenario by my player is slightly more prepared for the NFL season. So why play said player?

The problem with that logic is that it's far more likely your player is more prepared for the start of the regular season. And far less likely that said player gets some freak preseason injury that they wouldn't have otherwise sustained during the regular season. So most outcomes are a net positive by giving players snaps in preseason. But there is that very small chance of something bad happening.

 

[ravidubey]

Maybe so. But we're talking about the way Jerry's brain thinks.

He spent the bulk of his career with paper thin teams because he couldn't draft worth a shite and never had room against the cap to go get help because he grossly overpaid aging former stars or underperforming "steals".

Of course he's paranoid about preseason injuries.

But outside of the OL, RB, and maybe DE, we're better prepared to handle injuries than we've been in a while, I think.

And we'd not get far if we lost either Dak or Quinnen no matter what our depth situation.

 

[Cujo]

I might be misremembering but I think he intercepted a pass in the flats, of all things.

Just checked: that was his second preseason game.

Damn, good memory, bro

 

[Smitty]

Ware was amazing basically right out of the gate.

But very few players are Demarcus Ware.

 

[ravidubey]

Ware was amazing basically right out of the gate.

But very few players are Demarcus Ware.

Or Micah Parsons for that matter, and those are the first round EDGE linebacker types that jump to mind for comparison.

I'm always aiming for more than say, Anthony Spencer who had a pitiful rookie impact and a mid career, especially for a 1st round pick.

 

[boozeman]

I don't even like Davis but I have to admit he looks pretty good running the ball at times.

He is the best option for now. He actually has showed he can play a little and plays on ST. I am not at all confident he could he be counted on for more than a game or so.

 

[boozeman]

Yeah I mean I already know what Davis is from previous seasons. Even went over 100 yards in a game last year. This wasn't meant as a knock on him. More just putting into perspective the difference between the first half and second half of the game. I don't think the difference was all just superior running.

He is basically a dookie stick back, but he has more intelligence and class. You cannot say the guy has not earned it.

 

[boozeman]

So what was the accountability given to Wino Coach?

Yeah, confidential.

I just hope he is not soft.

Who is our assistant ST coach? I used up Grok so he can’t tell me.

 

[NoDak]

If guys don't reach Parson/Ware level right out of the gate they're labeled as struggling is a pretty unfair bar to set. How many people do we actually see do that?

 

[Cowboysrock55]

If guys don't reach Parson/Ware level right out of the gate they're labeled as struggling is a pretty unfair bar to set. How many people do we actually see do that?

The standard is you are either Parsons/Ware or you are Anthony Spencer or worse (Already drawing Mazi statements lol)

There is a whole world of possibilities in between that the vast majority of elite NFL pass rushers fall in to.

 

[ravidubey]

The standard is you are either Parsons/Ware or you are Anthony Spencer or worse

Well, considering Dallas has only ever drafted four EDGE type LB's, those three are the standards of comparison.

Malachi is trending ahead of Spencer (who did nada) and behind Parsons (who recovered a fumble among other plays) and Ware ( who had 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery in a half of football).

 

[boozeman]

Ware was amazing basically right out of the gate.

But very few players are Demarcus Ware.

Prescott had a damn fine debut if I recall that correctly.

 

[boozeman]

Well, considering Dallas has only ever drafted four EDGE type LB's, those three are the standards of comparison.

Malachi is trending ahead of Spencer (who did nada) and behind Parsons (who recovered a fumble among other plays) and Ware ( who had 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery in a half of football).

I don’t remember enough about Almost Anthony’s rookie camp to get in your shit about it, Ravi.

Consider yourself fortunate.

 

[ravidubey]

I don’t remember enough about Almost Anthony’s rookie camp to get in your shit about it, Ravi.

Consider yourself fortunate.

Hah, I'd forgotten that nickname.

It wasn't that he sucked, but that he was forced into the lineup because Dallas wanted an option besides Greg Ellis, who ended up starting anyway. Who knows, maybe the competition with Spencer pushed him into having his best year.

I remember hoping Spencer would flash every preseason and regular season game because he had the physical traits to really hit, but it's a lot to ask transitioning from college DE to a rush OLB in Phillips' 3-4 defense and take over for a guy who himself was a veteran 1st round draft pick.

Spencer didn't embarrass himself and he did not appear special either, but I think Jerry forced him onto the field whenever he got there.

I resented that more than anything

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Spencer started all year at SOLB for the #2 scoring defense in the league in 2009... and for three years in a row he only missed three starts total.

Of course opposite Ware he wasn't going to look as great, and he had more run responsibilities on the strong side. But I still say he was a pretty darn good player until he lost the cartilage in his knee.

 

[ravidubey]

Spencer started all year at SOLB for the #2 scoring defense in the league in 2009... and for three years in a row he only missed three starts total.

Of course opposite Ware he wasn't going to look as great, and he had more run responsibilities on the strong side. But I still say he was a pretty darn good player until he lost the cartilage in his knee.

About average for an NFL EDGE. One pro bowl in 8 seasons, the last two of which he was almost totally worn down. Four effective seasons with 6, 5, 6, and 11 sacks, four seasons with 0, .5, 1.5, and 3 sacks.

I don't think we'd be exactly elated were that Malachi's future.

 

[Smitty]

Spencer started all year at SOLB for the #2 scoring defense in the league in 2009... and for three years in a row he only missed three starts total.

Of course opposite Ware he wasn't going to look as great, and he had more run responsibilities on the strong side. But I still say he was a pretty darn good player until he lost the cartilage in his knee.

I think the opposite is true. Across from Ware he should have feasted on lesser attention.

 

[Smitty]

About average for an NFL EDGE. One pro bowl in 8 seasons, the last two of which he was almost totally worn down. Four effective seasons with 6, 5, 6, and 11 sacks, four seasons with 0, .5, 1.5, and 3 sacks.

I don't think we'd be exactly elated were that Malachi's future.

Right, if you were to say to me, You’ll get nothing from Lawrence his first two or last two years, and of the other four, three of those years you’ll get a max of 6 sacks, yeah, I go elsewhere with the pick no questions asked. Even without a guarantee of what else I would be selecting. Just knowing that would be the outcome I would bet on my ability to do better.

 

[ravidubey]

Right, if you were to say to me, You’ll get nothing from Lawrence his first two or last two years, and of the other four, three of those years you’ll get a max of 6 sacks, yeah, I go elsewhere with the pick no questions asked. Even without a guarantee of what else I would be selecting. Just knowing that would be the outcome I would bet on my ability to do better.

Absolutely