CFZ My Observations From the Game

[eromeopolk]

All I saw was a less talented team from last year doing the same mistakes from last year...penalties!

 

[Cmac]

I have no idea what you are talking about with the world class speed. You must be talking about another poster.

How about simply speed, since you equate the opposite......slow? Heck, Emmitt was viewed as a non-speed guy. I'm trying to figure where you going with this. Zeke will be out your hair after this season. Then it will be Dak's turn to grasp on the Fall Guy trophy on a regular basis and dismiss all the flaws abound elsewhere with this team.

 

[CowboyRoy]

How about simply speed, since you equate the opposite......slow? Heck, Emmitt was viewed as a non-speed guy. I'm trying to figure where you going with this. Zeke will be out your hair after this season. Then it will be Dak's turn to grasp on the Fall Guy trophy on a regular basis and dismiss all the flaws abound elsewhere with this team.

Again, you must be talking to someone else. If you want to talk about something I actually said and want me to explain it to you, we can do that.

 

[Cmac]

Again, you must be talking to someone else. If you want to talk about something I actually said and want me to explain it to you, we can do that.

No need to explain CowboyRoy. BTW.....what's Zeke got to do with Observations from the Game thread?

 

[conner01]

I hope it's possible that he was held out as a wise precaution.

According to reports, he sustained a "groin tweak."

Hopefully, he'll recover reasonably soon.

I don’t think it’s a real issue just for first pre season game it’s probably wise
But I really want to see him play
On paper he’s better than what we have
We just haven’t seen him on the field
Nothing would please me more than upgrading the backup QB spot
Rush did a decent job when called upon last year but he is what he is and there’s no upside
Ben has some nice traits but hasn’t translated to the field enough

 

[Pass2Run]

Given who the Cowboys have on their roster at QB, I think DiNucci has the most upside. He was clearly better last night than he was last year and improvement is what you look for in a guy like him. He has the best arm of the 3 backups, more mobility, and he is the youngest. Remember, Romo sat on the bench and looked pretty awful his first 2 years too. DiNucci will never be as good as Romo but he could develop into a quality backup.

I don't see the facsination with DeNucci. I think the best option for 2 is Grier.

We're in bad bad shape at backup QB.

 

[Pass2Run]

First and foremost, it's a waste of time to play DiNucci or Rush at this point in time, even in the preseason. I know Grier is a better player than both of these guys, but we'd be better served if he played in the next preseason game to see what we have out there.
Grier has a groin injury.
Time to move on from Rush if Grier has anything.
DiNucci has upside with a better arm than Rush and top notch athleticism.
Romo didn't start until his 4th season.

Second, I really like our rookie tight ends. Both Hendershot and Ferguson.
Agree.
I expect a significant amount of 2 TE sets this season.
I noticed McKeon with some good blocks.

Gallimore and Bohanna look like they have both put on weight. And I saw improvements in both, but especially Gallimore. He looks like a different player.
Bohanna's weight: It depends on when. In college he was about 360. Dropped to 327 for the draft. Reportedly dropped a little more since with the Cowboys.
Interesting that Gallimore played significant snaps but Odighi didn't play.

Stand out player. Doran Bland. Goodness. Get this guy on the field. He makes plays. He has great instincts, plays the ball great, covers better than I expected, and tackles well. Loves this pick so far. He looks like a natural out there. I feel more confident in him that I would Joseph right now, who I would say played better than Nashan Wright, so at least he's competing out there.
Doran Bland: Good reports in camp from the media. Also, Jourdan Lewis had high praise for him.

I thought Waletzko looked pretty good at LT, when I noticed him in there. He got some push on a run play, while Tyler whiffed his assignment and couldn't find anyone to block.
You mean Josh Ball? Waletzko (#71) is out injured.

Basham played with really good instincts tonight. He made a case for himself, I think.
Basham flashed good plays last season. OK as a 4th DE.

Fowler flashed why DQ likely brought him on.
Fowler is a legit NFL pass rusher when healthy.
He had 11.5 sacks in 2019 but had injury issues in 2020 & 2021.
His issues in the past have been run defense, but he made some plays vs the run last night.

Aaron Shampklin, to me, looks better than the rest of the backs. I think he brings more to the team as a 3rd back, because he can block, catch passes, run, etc. Smart player. I've liked him since I learned he was an UDFA. Great screen back. I liked Davis too. Dowdle was OK.. I think Shampklin likely gives you more on ST, because he can return punts and kicks.
Aaron Shampklin is interesting. Not big, but good timed speed & 37-1/2" vert.
Malik Davis is also interesting.

I didn't notice Sam Williams do too much. In the Football Team preseason game, Barno looked legit coming off the edge. I wish I would have seen our guy flash like that. In any case, I have a hunch I was onto something with Barno. Obviously, I'm not giving up on Williams. He did have a nice bullrush move out there.
I don't think you'll see Barno with that type of Bullrush.
SW had some good edge rushes. He was pushed just slightly wide/deep past the QB, but the speed/quickness was obvious.
SW also played some snaps inside.

Safety play was atrocious tonight.
Bell looked good.
I thought #36 & #39 were CBs but I kept seeing one or both deep and coming up as help defenders.

Brown looked solid at CB.
Kyron (#26) ?

Storey Jackson showed some aggression and had a tackle for a loss.
I saw #47 flash a couple of times but didn't focus on him.
#45 Malik Jefferson looked decent.

Fehoko scored the only TD, on a really smart route, in coverage. Wasn't pretty. But he got it done.
Your boy for the score! Would like to see more targets for him in the next game.

Tolbert looked so so, but it's really hard to get too low on him because the QBs were putrid tonight, so it really ruined the enjoyment of the game.
Hard to say due to the QB. Rush does not have the arm to throw those out routes. The ball can't hang in the air on those.

The game, overall, was ugly. But I'm also well aware it was a preseason game.

Way too many penalties.

If we don't fix that, McCarthy should quit right now.
He did 'bench' Fowler after the dumb person foul.
Tyler taking a defender to the ground should be an easy fix for NFL coaches.
If not, then there is a coaching problem.

He needs to be a disciplinarian. Or this won't get done.

Yes, I mean Ball..and thought that was Brown too..

In any case, I thought Ball did a decent job..Not Waletzko.

I also liked Malik Jefferson.

The two biggest take aways for this game, for me, was that I want Hendershot and Shampklin to make it.

Also pulling for Malik Jefferson.

 

[quickccc]

Stand out player. Doran Bland. Goodness. Get this guy on the field. He makes plays. He has great instincts, plays the ball great, covers better than I expected, and tackles well. Loves this pick so far. He looks like a natural out there. I feel more confident in him that I would Joseph right now, who I would say played better than Nashan Wright, so at least he's competing out there.

I think he's more of a safety, who could also play some corner in a pinch. Bland doesn't strike me as an NFL corner, though. College, sure. I'm not saying he's flexed to play both. Just that I see them looking at him as more of a free safety when it's all said and done. I could be totally wrong, though. I just don't see the fluidity and short-area quickness that you need to be a top NFL CB. He's more rangy and physical — like a Dan Quinn-style free safety. Again, just my amateur opinion. Right now, the Cowboys have him at corner.

 

[kskboys]

Joseph is the worst cornerback on the team.

At present, that could very well be true.

 

[starfan1]

My observations are I need to observe more. Honestly though if Tyron goes down it could be problematic
Ball to me looked to be bad in pass blocking . The penalties need to get shored up

 

[RonWashington]

Daron Bland blew up a screen early with great recognition leveled the receiver then Bell scoops it up sprints to the end zone . It was an incomplete pass but the aggressiveness on both players parts was nice to see . Both should be on final 53 I’m thinking .

 

[Pass2Run]

Can’t get enough of the “we’re going to clean it up” and the “we have to be better!” Followed by “this is on me”

McCarthy is nothing but words. From when we signed him talking about the analytics and having an analytics team on staff. To the following year and his piss poor time management. Penalties will be the story of the year again

Why wouldn't you want an analytics team on staff?

 

[BoyzBlaster]

In a preseason game, dude? Come on. Y'all are on autopilot. I know none of y'all want to remember but the SF game had a former Dallas Cowboy reffing the game. By your logic we actually had more than 14 penalties against SF because he hid a few for us. Lol.

On top of all our other problems we definitely have the whiniest fan base in the league.

 

[GINeric]

My observations from the game.....

MORE DAMN PENALTIES!!!!

There isn't a quarterback, an running back, receiver, or offensive coordinator that can overcome starting your drives at 1st and 20, 3rd and 25, etc. There is no playbook designed to get 25 and 30 yard 1st downs!!

I feel sorry for any quarterback in the league that has to overcome the opponents, his own damn players committing penalty after penalty after penalty, and then dumb *** coaches who keep allowing it to happen. Constant PENALTIES change your game plan completely.

Name me ONE quarterback who's able to overcome being the highest penalized team in the league......

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I can go a little overboard, but sadly, most of what I have said has come to pass and is true. Every stat I put up is real. And after 3 years of bashing Zeke, almost every poster on here finally agrees with me that Pollard needs to play a lot more. Heck even the NFL landscape writes article after article about Pollard and Zeke agreeing with me.

You guys were telling me I was crazy 3 years ago. After two stinker years by Zeke and Pollard shining, how can you argue otherwise? NO ONE thinks Zeke is a top 5 or even a top 10 back anymore other then a few Zeke homers on here. Most pundits agree he is not. Im at 20.

YOu call that overboard, thats how I feel. Given the carries and offense, 20 other backs could do better than Zeke.

This guy goes from "zeke sucks" to "tony needs to play more".

Yes...tony needs to play more. No zeke doesn't suck. It's a function of terrible coaching. They can;t even manage the substitutions...they make zeke raise his hand for it.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

No need to explain CowboyRoy. BTW.....what's Zeke got to do with Observations from the Game thread?

Opportunity to bash zeke.

 

[starfan1]

No need to explain CowboyRoy. BTW.....what's Zeke got to do with Observations from the Game thread?

You know CR is going to use every opportunity he can to do a Zeke bash. There are however limits. I dont like zeke and some of what Roy says I can agree with but not all of it. Of course Roy is to Zeke what Pappy and Mountainer are to dak. Dont matter what the thread topic is they will find a way to make it about the player they despise.

 

[G2]

I watched the game a couple times and focused on the O line. I noticed that there were plenty of well developed holes made and the RBs were slow as **** to get through the lanes. I expect the starters to do a better job, but it's concerning nonetheless.

 

[Whyjerry]

The offense once again looked poorly coached.

Moore continues to underwhelm.

 

[quickccc]

Turpin needs to bring a kick out of the end zone and not “ protect “ himself with fair catches . Let’s see some of that speed on returns .

Given that it's his first NFL game period, i don't have a problem with that right now at this moment, ..i imagine he's trying his decision making and ball security - especially once the rainy
weather took part.
Either the nerviness or wet rainy weather may also have played a part of his drop passes as well.

Once the nerves and butter flies decease, i want to believe the natural instincts and aggression will take over ....