Penalties remain an annoying issue

[big dog cowboy]

This is one of the things I'd be more concerned about than the final score. Dallas had penalties that erased positive plays. For example, Milton had a scramble that would have produced a 10-yard gain, only for an illegal-shift penalty to wipe it out. That's exactly the sort of thing coaches hate.

Preseason is when young players are supposed to demonstrate:

• assignment discipline
• alignment
• communication
• situational awareness

If you're repeatedly creating your own negative plays, you're making the coaching staff's evaluation harder. And some of these players were fighting for their jobs! Maybe the final 53 will be more disciplined than the scrubs were tonight. But this was an issue last year too. So until we see less penalties, this is a lingering issue. AGAIN!

 

[kevm3]

Exactly. I am concerned about the Cowboys getting lazy after a couple of victories and taking it easy. We were looking unbeatable after the first two preseason games with really disciplined play and low penalties, and this game we showed up undisciplined and sloppy. If we take that into the playoffs, this is why we don't get out of round 2 for like 30 years.

I was impressed with the comeback at the end however. The team didn't just roll over and get destroyed, which is a positive.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Exactly. I am concerned about the Cowboys getting lazy after a couple of victories and taking it easy. We were looking unbeatable after the first two preseason games with really disciplined play and low penalties, and this game we showed up undisciplined and sloppy. If we take that into the playoffs, this is why we don't get out of round 2 for like 30 years.

I was impressed with the comeback at the end however. The team didn't just roll over and get destroyed, which is a positive.

Yup, that's also a difference, but the penalties are a problem