A few thoughts after watching the game on tivo:

[Smith22]

C. Brown sucks and needs to go.

Carpenter is solid in pass coverage, but he is AWFUL against the run. The guy made maybe 1 decent play in the run game the entire night. More often than not, someone was pushing his scared behind down the field out of the play.

Watkins kept his spot on the team with his play.

Our new backup at center seemed to hold his ground more often than not.

Free and Pat McUgly both struggle against edge rushers. Free still looks like he needs to get a bit stronger.

Buehler is awesome on kickoffs! His leg is unreal.

Octavian made a nice play on the INT and secured a spot on the roster, at least for a little while.

 

[silverbear]

C. Brown sucks and needs to go.

Carpenter is solid in pass coverage, but he is AWFUL against the run. The guy made maybe 1 decent play in the run game the entire night. More often than not, someone was pushing his scared behind down the field out of the play.

Watkins kept his spot on the team with his play.

Our new backup at center seemed to hold his ground more often than not.

Free and Pat McUgly both struggle against edge rushers. Free still looks like he needs to get a bit stronger.

Buehler is awesome on kickoffs! His leg is unreal.

Octavian made a nice play on the INT and secured a spot on the roster, at least for a little while.

Watkins saved his job, for sure; what a terrific effort he turned in... Octavien and Butler had nice games too, I thought... Phillips play at the end of the first half probably helped cement his position on the squad, and to my surprise, I think Carpenter secured himself a spot on the practice squad... the kid wasn't half bad...

I was also pleased with what I saw from Preston tonight... but I think Stanback played himself out of a job, the guy couldn't even field kickoffs cleanly... and he made a poor attempt on the Vikings' long punt return for a TD (as did Jesse Holley)...

As for your criticisms re: Carpenter, I agree that he's not strong at the point of attack, but he'll stick for his cover ability, and will probably play the role that Burnett played for the Boys last year...

All in all, I think this game was useful for the Cowboys' staff... now I'll be on pins and needles waiting to see what the 53 man roster looks like, and who makes the practice squad... gonna be a fun 24-48 hours...

 

[Cowboy Junkie]

Watkins saved his job, for sure; what a terrific effort he turned in... Octavien and Butler had nice games too, I thought... Phillips play at the end of the first half probably helped cement his position on the squad, and to my surprise, I think Carpenter secured himself a spot on the practice squad... the kid wasn't half bad...

I was also pleased with what I saw from Preston tonight... but I think Stanback played himself out of a job, the guy couldn't even field kickoffs cleanly...

As for your criticisms re: Carpenter, I agree that he's not strong at the point of attack, but he'll stick for his cover ability, and will probably play the role that Burnett played for the Boys last year...

All in all, I think this game was useful for the Cowboys' staff... now I'll be on pins and needles waiting to see what the 53 man roster looks like, and who makes the practice squad... gonna be a fun 24-48 hours...

Carpenter was a wasted draft pick.... he could not even make plays against the 3rd team offense... if there was not so much time invested in him and the season started next week and there are so many injuries to other linebackers on the team I would love to see him cut!

as for Doug Free Id cut him . only thing he will do is get someone hurt...there has to be someone out there that can serve as a back up and do a better job...

Id also seriously think of cutting Courtney Brown!

on a good note I think the Cowboys have something in Olgatree

 

[gimmesix]

I thought Mickens stepped up after looking bad early.

 

[Idgit]

Watkins saved his job, for sure; what a terrific effort he turned in... Octavien and Butler had nice games too, I thought... Phillips play at the end of the first half probably helped cement his position on the squad, and to my surprise, I think Carpenter secured himself a spot on the practice squad... the kid wasn't half bad...

I was also pleased with what I saw from Preston tonight... but I think Stanback played himself out of a job, the guy couldn't even field kickoffs cleanly... and he made a poor attempt on the Vikings' long punt return for a TD (as did Jesse Holley)...

As for your criticisms re: Carpenter, I agree that he's not strong at the point of attack, but he'll stick for his cover ability, and will probably play the role that Burnett played for the Boys last year...

All in all, I think this game was useful for the Cowboys' staff... now I'll be on pins and needles waiting to see what the 53 man roster looks like, and who makes the practice squad... gonna be a fun 24-48 hours...

I don't know what I'm missing, but I don't see the big problem with Carpenter's play as a nickle backer at all. He looks fine to me. Sure, he skates around in run support, but he's active in coverage and in the right place, and in on the tackles. Gets some pressure occasionally when he blitzes.

 

[silverbear]

I don't know what I'm missing, but I don't see the big problem with Carpenter's play as a nickle backer at all. He looks fine to me. Sure, he skates around in run support, but he's active in coverage and in the right place, and in on the tackles. Gets some pressure occasionally when he blitzes.

Like I said, the only real problem with Carp is at the point of attack... he can make plays in pursuit in the running game, and is as you said fairly effective in coverage...

I would have hoped for more from a first round pick, but think he can handle the role you describe just fine...

 

[Doomsday]

Carp also struggles to make tackles in space, not really a good trait to have in a nickel backer. We could of brought in at least 10 other cheap FAs who would be a better fit for that role, but Jerry didnt waste a 1st round pick on them so it will never happen.

 

[kmd24]

Judging by Free's performance over the entirety of the preseason, I think he will be serviceable.

OTOH, Courtney Brown cannot play corner.

 

[RS12]

I don't know what I'm missing, but I don't see the big problem with Carpenter's play as a nickle backer at all. He looks fine to me. Sure, he skates around in run support, but he's active in coverage and in the right place, and in on the tackles. Gets some pressure occasionally when he blitzes.

Huh? What good is a LB that cant shed blockers or play the run? If you dont like contact go play flag football, or argue with Skip Bayless.

 

[RS12]

Free and Pat McUgly both struggle against edge rushers. Free still looks like he needs to get a bit stronger.

If either of these guys had lineup against the Vikes starters, Romo ends up in the hospital. By the way if Free isnt strong enough after 3 years in an NFL weight, he never will be.

 

[Idgit]

Huh? What good is a LB that cant shed blockers or play the run? If you dont like contact go play flag football, or argue with Skip Bayless.

He runs around blockers more than he engages-but-can't-shed them. But he's not afraid to stick his nose in on a tackle necessarily. He's always in on the ends of the plays, it's just further down field than you'd like to see. He does rarely penetrate the LoS in running situations, though he's a decent blitzer, as I said earlier.

 

[gimmesix]

I don't know what I'm missing, but I don't see the big problem with Carpenter's play as a nickle backer at all. He looks fine to me. Sure, he skates around in run support, but he's active in coverage and in the right place, and in on the tackles. Gets some pressure occasionally when he blitzes.

Carpenter can have great coverage on every play as the nickel linebacker and miss a tackle or get pushed out of the play on one run, and fans will be calling for his head.

As an every-down linebacker, he's a bust. But as a player who comes in for third-and-long situations, he can be an asset because of his coverage abilities and play in space.

I didn't see a real problem with him in the role he'll be asked to play. If he has to do more than that, then that's when we're in trouble.

 

[Idgit]

Carpenter can have great coverage on every play as the nickel linebacker and miss a tackle or get pushed out of the play on one run, and fans will be calling for his head.

As an every-down linebacker, he's a bust. But as a player who comes in for third-and-long situations, he can be an asset because of his coverage abilities and play in space.

I didn't see a real problem with him in the role he'll be asked to play. If he has to do more than that, then that's when we're in trouble.

That's my opinion, too. It bums me out b/c I like what I see of the guy as a person, but he's just not going to be a starter.

Tonight, at least, he was fairly active against the Minny scrubs.

 

[UnoDallas]

If either of these guys had lineup against the Vikes starters, Romo ends up in the hospital. By the way if Free isnt strong enough after 3 years in an NFL weight, he never will be.

Agreed

we draft a LT first next year or at I would

 

[tunahelper]

That's my opinion, too. It bums me out b/c I like what I see of the guy as a person, but he's just not going to be a starter.

Tonight, at least, he was fairly active against the Minny scrubs.

In a cover 2 scheme Carp would be effective because he would be doing similar responsibilities he will have in 4-2 Nickel. If you put a young Derrick Brooks inside in 3-4 he would get blasted a lot as well.

It was a poor draft pick for the scheme I believe.

 

[Drederick Tatum]

Tonight, at least, he was fairly active against the Minny scrubs.

If this is the best that can be said about a 1st round pick after 4 years on the same team, shouldn't he be cut??... seriously

 

[DallasDomination]

If this is the best that can be said about a 1st round pick after 4 years on the same team, shouldn't he be cut??... seriously

Carpenter needs to go he sucks!.

 

[WarC]

I don't know what I'm missing, but I don't see the big problem with Carpenter's play as a nickle backer at all. He looks fine to me. Sure, he skates around in run support, but he's active in coverage and in the right place, and in on the tackles. Gets some pressure occasionally when he blitzes.

Carpenter is the kinda guy I hope flourishes with time in the system on decent physical ability but tremendous football sense and an eye for the football. Like Dat Nguyen.

 

[fanfromvirginia]

Carpenter was a wasted draft pick.... he could not even make plays against the 3rd team offense... if there was not so much time invested in him and the season started next week and there are so many injuries to other linebackers on the team I would love to see him cut!

as for Doug Free Id cut him . only thing he will do is get someone hurt...there has to be someone out there that can serve as a back up and do a better job...

Id also seriously think of cutting Courtney Brown!

on a good note I think the Cowboys have something in Olgatree

Cutting Free would be insane. Backup LTs who can step in at a moment's notice and not make fools of themselves are few and far between. Most starting LTs look bad on a pretty regular basis. It's a tough position.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Watkins saved his job, for sure; what a terrific effort he turned in...

I agree about his effort.

But let's consider his consistency. Does a preseason game indicate his play in the regular season. Does one game set one up for a stellar season.
I hope this is the Watkins in full bloom. I hope he turns in consitent good play and is consistent all year.

If he can, he's in like Flynn.