DC.COM Blog: A Few Players To Watch Tonight

WoodysGirl

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Posted by nickeatman at 8/21/2009 9:04 AM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

I’ll be the first to admit the big story of tonight’s game won’t have anything to do with football. You just can’t open up a $1.1 billion stadium for a game that doesn’t count in the standings and expect football to be the primary storyline.

That being said, we realize that most of you guys that come to our site will be lucky if you ever get to make the trip down, or up and over, to see a game in this mammoth building.

So we’ll do our best tonight not to get too caught up in the surroundings.

Yes, there is a game tonight and from the sounds of things, the starters will get at least a half, and maybe play into the third quarter, matching Tennessee’s dress rehearsal, considering it will be the Titans’ third of five preseason games.

So what guys are we looking at? All of them of course. But let’s name a few.

· I’m looking at the starting offensive line. This Titans defense is strong and I want to see if the big boys can create a push up the middle.

· Of course, we’ll be watching the receivers like we have all of camp. It looks like Sam Hurd will get a few first-team snaps. If he can consistently make plays against Tennessee’s first-team defense, then he’s indeed for real.

· There’s been a lot of talk about the starting cornerbacks. We know what to expect from Terence Newman, but not with Mike Jenkins. Right now, the Cowboys have him starting on the right side ahead of Orlando Scandrick, but Jenkins has to prove he’s the better play on the field. This will be his first real chance.

· What about a couple of rookie linebackers? Brandon Williams and Stephen Hodge are supposed to play after missing last week in Oakland. The Cowboys need to see if Williams can be a solid pass-rusher. They need a third guy to step up big time.

· With the roof and doors probably closed tonight, creating a true indoor game, let’s see how well rookie kicker David Beuhler can boom these kickoffs in the end zone.

· Speaking of rookies, a few young defensive backs need to have a strong showing. DeAngelo Smith really hasn’t done anything, and other than a few plays early in camp, safety Michael Hamlin and cornerback Mike Mickens haven’t either. Someone will get the chance to separate themselves from the pack tonight.

There’s a lot of guys to watch tonight, but those are the few that stand out here for me this morning.
 
Sorry, but just because Hurd makes a couple plays against some Titans first-stringers in a preseason game doesn't mean he's definitely "for real." Using that litmus Jamaica Rector should be our Santana Moss right now.
 
parchy;2895323 said:
Sorry, but just because Hurd makes a couple plays against some Titans first-stringers in a preseason game doesn't mean he's definitely "for real." Using that litmus Jamaica Rector should be our Santana Moss right now.

I agree. I think it will be another positive test if Hurd can go out and produce again this weekend. In the end no matter what any of these guys do in pre-season they have to show it when the games start to count.

Billy Davis is a good example of a guy who would have some big pre-season and then not heard from when the season started.

My hope is Hurd will become a contributing member of this team we will find out
 
We know what to expect from Terence Newman, but not with Mike Jenkins. Right now, the Cowboys have him starting on the right side ahead of Orlando Scandrick, but Jenkins has to prove he’s the better play on the field. This will be his first real chance.

Boy, I could of sworn that Jenkins started at CB last year:rolleyes:
 
Hurd's produced whenever he's been on the field in the regular season, too. There's no great mystery when it comes to Sam Hurd.
 
Idgit;2895372 said:
Hurd's produced whenever he's been on the field in the regular season, too. There's no great mystery when it comes to Sam Hurd.
I wouldn't say he "produced." He spent all of 2007 as the clear cut #3, when our team was putting out a record breaking offense. And he only managed 19 catches.

I'd want to see more than that to say a guy "produced."

In contrast, when Crayton had two MUCH better WRs ahead of him and a first time starter at QB in 2006, he put up nearly double the catches at a #3.
 
theogt;2895385 said:
I wouldn't say he "produced." He spent all of 2007 as the clear cut #3, when our team was putting out a record breaking offense. And he only managed 19 catches.

I'd want to see more than that to say a guy "produced."

In contrast, when Crayton had two MUCH better WRs ahead of him and a first time starter at QB in 2006, he put up nearly double the catches at a #3.

Crayton produced, too. But my comment was not so much that Sam Hurd's already been a star. It's already pretty much been established what Hurd can (or can't) do in real games, so that there's not much mystery as to what he'll do in a preseason game playing with the ones. Yawn.

If I were picking an offensive skill player to look for, I'd have picked Bennett, who's also coming off of a good camp and who's part of the two TE set we'll be playing from significantly this year.
 
WoodysGirl;2895276 said:
Posted by nickeatman at 8/21/2009 9:04 AM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

I’ll be the first to admit the big story of tonight’s game won’t have anything to do with football. You just can’t open up a $1.1 billion stadium for a game that doesn’t count in the standings and expect football to be the primary storyline.

That being said, we realize that most of you guys that come to our site will be lucky if you ever get to make the trip down, or up and over, to see a game in this mammoth building.

So we’ll do our best tonight not to get too caught up in the surroundings.

Yes, there is a game tonight and from the sounds of things, the starters will get at least a half, and maybe play into the third quarter, matching Tennessee’s dress rehearsal, considering it will be the Titans’ third of five preseason games.

So what guys are we looking at? All of them of course. But let’s name a few.

· I’m looking at the starting offensive line. This Titans defense is strong and I want to see if the big boys can create a push up the middle.

· Of course, we’ll be watching the receivers like we have all of camp. It looks like Sam Hurd will get a few first-team snaps. If he can consistently make plays against Tennessee’s first-team defense, then he’s indeed for real.

· There’s been a lot of talk about the starting cornerbacks. We know what to expect from Terence Newman, but not with Mike Jenkins. Right now, the Cowboys have him starting on the right side ahead of Orlando Scandrick, but Jenkins has to prove he’s the better play on the field. This will be his first real chance.

· What about a couple of rookie linebackers? Brandon Williams and Stephen Hodge are supposed to play after missing last week in Oakland. The Cowboys need to see if Williams can be a solid pass-rusher. They need a third guy to step up big time.

· With the roof and doors probably closed tonight, creating a true indoor game, let’s see how well rookie kicker David Beuhler can boom these kickoffs in the end zone.

· Speaking of rookies, a few young defensive backs need to have a strong showing. DeAngelo Smith really hasn’t done anything, and other than a few plays early in camp, safety Michael Hamlin and cornerback Mike Mickens haven’t either. Someone will get the chance to separate themselves from the pack tonight.

There’s a lot of guys to watch tonight, but those are the few that stand out here for me this morning.


Are they going to close the roof tonight. If so, why? Is it raining in dallas today? I would expect Jerry to want to open the roof and doors to showcase the stadium.
 
demirji22;2895431 said:
Are they going to close the roof tonight. If so, why? Is it raining in dallas today? I would expect Jerry to want to open the roof and doors to showcase the stadium.

Because it will be 90+ degrees and we can't have people uncomfortable...

I'll be shocked if 80% of our games don't have the roof closed. I know the one in Houston has to have pretty much perfect temps before they'll open it.
 
parchy;2895323 said:
Sorry, but just because Hurd makes a couple plays against some Titans first-stringers in a preseason game doesn't mean he's definitely "for real." Using that litmus Jamaica Rector should be our Santana Moss right now.

Agreed but don't discount anything Hurd is doing.

He's had an amazing camp, hes producing in pre-season games, and he has taken himself physically to another level.


Don't be surprised if this guy has developed himself into a entirely different level.

He has always had the ability to make acrobatic plays and his route running looks to be extremely crisp.
 
Chocolate Lab;2895439 said:
Because it will be 90+ degrees and we can't have people uncomfortable...

I'll be shocked if 80% of our games don't have the roof closed. I know the one in Houston has to have pretty much perfect temps before they'll open it.

I hope not.

I think the Texas heat is an advantage for our team.

It gets so muggy on that field at times that you can barely breathe if you are not used to it.
 
Chocolate Lab;2895439 said:
Because it will be 90+ degrees and we can't have people uncomfortable...

I'll be shocked if 80% of our games don't have the roof closed. I know the one in Houston has to have pretty much perfect temps before they'll open it.

Thanks
So, I never heard this discussed before,
Is the cover over the whole in the roof glass or not.
It would be sweet if it were glass and you could see through it
 
romoakatruebeast;2895331 said:
And ill be at work.:(


Hopefully the game lasts until 11 or so.

i get off of work as the game starts...west coast....so i have it on dvr and will start watching it from the beginning when i get home...love technology...
 
Chocolate Lab;2895439 said:
Because it will be 90+ degrees and we can't have people uncomfortable...

I'll be shocked if 80% of our games don't have the roof closed. I know the one in Houston has to have pretty much perfect temps before they'll open it.

Re-****ing-diculous.
 
I want to see how our run defense holds up tonight. Tenn. Is avery good running team
 
parchy;2895323 said:
Sorry, but just because Hurd makes a couple plays against some Titans first-stringers in a preseason game doesn't mean he's definitely "for real." Using that litmus Jamaica Rector should be our Santana Moss right now.

What does he have to do? The guy has been awesome so far this year. If he is able to compete and be successful against the Titans top D, I think he deseres some consideration for a starting role. What has Crayton done to make his spot secure. Crayton is actually better in the slot.
 

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