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5:33 AM Mon, Aug 31, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Jean-Jacques Taylor/Columnist E-mail News tips
So much for the impressive dress rehearsal. So much for the dominating first-team performance I was looking for against an average San Francisco team.
The Cowboys just looked OK against the 49ers - and that should cause a tad bit of concern, even though it's the preseason and the games don't count.
The one thing I haven't seen from this offense, aside from Felix Jones, is explosiveness. The Cowboys aren't going to be able to consistently drive the ball 80-90 yards against NFL defenses either because they make a mistake - penalty, dropped pass, missed assignment - or the defense makes a good play.
The best offenses gain yards in 30- and 40-yard cunks. Aside from Jones, who is going to deliver that for the Cowboys? I don't know because that player has not revealed himself in training camp.
Without further ado, here are my impressions from the Cowboys' third preseason game:
* STAT OF THE PRESEASON: Tony Romo has been on the field for 84 plays in the preseason. He has ONE completion of more than 25 yards and that was primarily a 42-yard catch-and-run by Felix Jones.
Who is going to make the big plays in the passing game? Miles Austin is supposed to do it, but we haven't seen it in the preseason.
* The number of penalties the Cowboys committed wasn't bad - the timing was.
A holding penalty by Leonard Davis negates a 49-yard field by Nick Folk. A procedure penalty by Marc Colombo turns third-and-goal from the SF 4 into third-and-nine, which played a role in Dallas settling for a field goal after starting the drive at the SF 9. Those are mistakes that get you beat in the regular season.
* Marion Barber looked good with 13 carries for 47 yards. On one third-and-1 carry, he quickly cut upfield and ran through two SF defensive backs to get the first down. That's the kind of physical player he must be, and that's how he excites the team and the crowd.
He's not nearly as good when he bounces outside looking for a bigger gain because he lacks the necessary speed to consistently outrun defenders to the perimeter. There's nothing wrong with a good two-yard run sometimes; it's much better than a one-yard loss.
* Miles Austin finally showed up in the preseason with a couple of nice catches, including a sliding 22-yard gain on a pass thrown behind him.
* Tony Romo's interception was awful. Under duress, he lofted a ball into double coverage from the SF 35 on second-and-eight. That's the kind of play that will get you beat because a four-yard gain on third down gets you a 47-yard field goal and a chance for three points.
* Felix Jones provides at least one moment a game that makes you go, "Wow!". He nearly took a simple inside handoff 94 yards for a touchdown. An arm tackle from the safety brought him down after a 13-yard gain.
He scored a touchdown in a nifty three-yard run from the Shotgun after Tony Romo did a good job selling the pass by making all sorts of faux adjustments at the line of scrimmage.
* Terence Newman and Patrick Crayton did a nice job on punt returns. Each had one return of more than 20 yards. This is a good combination for the season.
* The coverage units were better. There weren't nearly as many missed tackles.
* It was good to see Nick Folk drill a 49-yard field goal even if a penalty took it off the board. Kickers can lose their confidence and rhythm in a hurry. Remember Mike Vanderjagt?
* Anthony Spencer had his best game with a sack and sevral pressures. He's pretty good against the run, but the Cowboys need him to be a factor as a pass rusher.
* Kevin Ogletree will make the team. I don't think Isaiah Stanback will, in part, because of the injuries that have reduced his playing time in training camp and the preseason.
* The video board was not a factor. Has there ever been so much talk about something that's really not that big of a deal?
* The Cowboys had another terrific long scoring drive, this time marching 94 yards in 14 plays, consuming 8:14
* Jay Ratliff and Bradie James combined on a sack. If they can consistently provide pressure up the middle, it's going to make life easier for DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer.
* Keith Brooking does a nice job
* The offensive line looked good running the ball and protecting Romo.
Jean-Jacques Taylor/Columnist E-mail News tips
So much for the impressive dress rehearsal. So much for the dominating first-team performance I was looking for against an average San Francisco team.
The Cowboys just looked OK against the 49ers - and that should cause a tad bit of concern, even though it's the preseason and the games don't count.
The one thing I haven't seen from this offense, aside from Felix Jones, is explosiveness. The Cowboys aren't going to be able to consistently drive the ball 80-90 yards against NFL defenses either because they make a mistake - penalty, dropped pass, missed assignment - or the defense makes a good play.
The best offenses gain yards in 30- and 40-yard cunks. Aside from Jones, who is going to deliver that for the Cowboys? I don't know because that player has not revealed himself in training camp.
Without further ado, here are my impressions from the Cowboys' third preseason game:
* STAT OF THE PRESEASON: Tony Romo has been on the field for 84 plays in the preseason. He has ONE completion of more than 25 yards and that was primarily a 42-yard catch-and-run by Felix Jones.
Who is going to make the big plays in the passing game? Miles Austin is supposed to do it, but we haven't seen it in the preseason.
* The number of penalties the Cowboys committed wasn't bad - the timing was.
A holding penalty by Leonard Davis negates a 49-yard field by Nick Folk. A procedure penalty by Marc Colombo turns third-and-goal from the SF 4 into third-and-nine, which played a role in Dallas settling for a field goal after starting the drive at the SF 9. Those are mistakes that get you beat in the regular season.
* Marion Barber looked good with 13 carries for 47 yards. On one third-and-1 carry, he quickly cut upfield and ran through two SF defensive backs to get the first down. That's the kind of physical player he must be, and that's how he excites the team and the crowd.
He's not nearly as good when he bounces outside looking for a bigger gain because he lacks the necessary speed to consistently outrun defenders to the perimeter. There's nothing wrong with a good two-yard run sometimes; it's much better than a one-yard loss.
* Miles Austin finally showed up in the preseason with a couple of nice catches, including a sliding 22-yard gain on a pass thrown behind him.
* Tony Romo's interception was awful. Under duress, he lofted a ball into double coverage from the SF 35 on second-and-eight. That's the kind of play that will get you beat because a four-yard gain on third down gets you a 47-yard field goal and a chance for three points.
* Felix Jones provides at least one moment a game that makes you go, "Wow!". He nearly took a simple inside handoff 94 yards for a touchdown. An arm tackle from the safety brought him down after a 13-yard gain.
He scored a touchdown in a nifty three-yard run from the Shotgun after Tony Romo did a good job selling the pass by making all sorts of faux adjustments at the line of scrimmage.
* Terence Newman and Patrick Crayton did a nice job on punt returns. Each had one return of more than 20 yards. This is a good combination for the season.
* The coverage units were better. There weren't nearly as many missed tackles.
* It was good to see Nick Folk drill a 49-yard field goal even if a penalty took it off the board. Kickers can lose their confidence and rhythm in a hurry. Remember Mike Vanderjagt?
* Anthony Spencer had his best game with a sack and sevral pressures. He's pretty good against the run, but the Cowboys need him to be a factor as a pass rusher.
* Kevin Ogletree will make the team. I don't think Isaiah Stanback will, in part, because of the injuries that have reduced his playing time in training camp and the preseason.
* The video board was not a factor. Has there ever been so much talk about something that's really not that big of a deal?
* The Cowboys had another terrific long scoring drive, this time marching 94 yards in 14 plays, consuming 8:14
* Jay Ratliff and Bradie James combined on a sack. If they can consistently provide pressure up the middle, it's going to make life easier for DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer.
* Keith Brooking does a nice job
* The offensive line looked good running the ball and protecting Romo.
