Night & Day

[CowboyRoy]

Thoughts? But of course.

Kellen Moore needs to go sell ramen noodles somewhere. With that noodle arm of his he could make a great spokesperson for Maruchan.

It's not possible to overemphasize the amazingness that is Jaylon Smith on the field.

Taco will have 7 sacks minimum this year. Book it. He and Tapper will step up big time this year.

The Dak to Dez connection will be equally as lethal as the following other connections.
1. Dak to Bease
2. Dak to Rico
3. DAK to Witt
4. Dak to Switz
5. Dak to Brice
The offense is locked & loaded.

Tapper and Taco? Tapper has been even worse that Taco this preseason. Tapper comes in in like the 3rd quarter against scrubs and gets stone walled nearly the entire time. The ONLY time you see him near the ball is when the snap goes over the head of the QB and he can use his speed to run there quickly. Taco had zero tackles, zero sack, zero, zero, zero. And this was againts Colts 2nd and third string scrubs.

 

[CowboyRoy]

If all your looking at is the stats, you are right...he did nothing. Good eye!

When he gets stats, its all the craze, when he does nothing, its all the craze.

Taco looked bad in training camp and has looked over matched in preseason as well. Do we see little glimpses and some positves? Sure, but the guy should be showing up much more than he does.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I think the FO will be scanning the waiver wires for a veteran QB. Kellen Moore might make a great coach one day, but he will never be a serviceable NFL QB. Seeing a lot of typical fan boy admiration for Cooper Rush, but that would be a reckless decision. If Dak went down, a Cooper Rush-led team wouldn't win a game, never mind the first 6 while Zeke is out.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I felt Jaylon did a very good job. I was not expecting mid season form. I was watching a kid who has missed over a year of football get back out on the field for the 1st time and was very active on the field. He will go back look at tape and suit up next weekend and look to continue improving.

Nothing to do with watching tape. He knew what to do, just couldnt cut when he had to.

 

[jday]

I felt Jaylon did a very good job. I was not expecting mid season form. I was watching a kid who has missed over a year of football get back out on the field for the 1st time and was very active on the field. He will go back look at tape and suit up next weekend and look to continue improving.

Just so I'm clear, I didn't expect him to log a Pro Bowl performance Saturday night. The disconcerting aspect of him missing tackles was not that he missed it but why. From my view, it looked as though he is still favoring that right knee. It's not pronounced or all that noticeable until the situation dictates he has to change direction; particularly to his right. The moment that happened on the few occasions I saw it was the end of the play for him...we are going to need to see him exhibit the ability to change direction before his play warrants meaningful snaps in a real game. Otherwise, I am very encouraged by his progress.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I think the FO will be scanning the waiver wires for a veteran QB. Kellen Moore might make a great coach one day, but he will never be a serviceable NFL QB. Seeing a lot of typical fan boy admiration for Cooper Rush, but that would be a reckless decision. If Dak went down, a Cooper Rush-led team wouldn't win a game, never mind the first 6 while Zeke is out.

Rush is head and shoulders better than Moore. If Dak went down Cooper would win more games no question. How you have watched the two and come to THAT conclusion of yours is mystifying.

 

[jday]

I think the FO will be scanning the waiver wires for a veteran QB. Kellen Moore might make a great coach one day, but he will never be a serviceable NFL QB. Seeing a lot of typical fan boy admiration for Cooper Rush, but that would be a reckless decision. If Dak went down, a Cooper Rush-led team wouldn't win a game, never mind the first 6 while Zeke is out.

How can you possibly know that? Is it against the odds? Sure. But some people pick things up faster than others. Dak is such a one. And so far, Cooper looks to be such a one.

You can do the same thing that the so-called experts did regarding Dak last year all you like; you can say it's preseason, you can bring up vanilla this and vanilla that. But when it comes to the Quarterback position, more than half the battle is being able to make NFL throws (which Rush has), maintain poise in the pocket/move around to create time (which Rush has), and move the ball down the field to score (which Rush has better than almost every QB currently in the NFL in preseason thus far). Ignore all that all you like because when Rush turns out to be the backup, we all know how you will respond: "Happy to be wrong!"

And I'm happy for you!

 

[KingintheNorth]

Rush is head and shoulders better than Moore. If Dak went down Cooper would win more games no question. How you have watched the two and come to THAT conclusion of yours is mystifying.

Agreed that Cooper Rush is better than Kellen Moore.

Don't think either are viable NFL QBs though.

 

[Doomsday101]

Just so I'm clear, I didn't expect him to log a Pro Bowl performance Saturday night. The disconcerting aspect of him missing tackles was not that he missed it but why. From my view, it looked as though he is still favoring that right knee. It's not pronounced or all that noticeable until the situation dictates he has to change direction; particularly to his right. The moment that happened on the few occasions I saw it was the end of the play for him...we are going to need to see him exhibit the ability to change direction before his play warrants meaningful snaps in a real game. Otherwise, I am very encouraged by his progress.

How much was due to the injury? Hard to say, seeing how this was his 1st outing since Jan 0f 2016 I think some of what I saw is a guy being over aggressive and over running the play. However we may look at it as I said they will go back and look at the tape and move on from there. I think getting this game under his belt will only increase his confidence and hopefully allow him to settle in to the position.

 

[gmoney112]

At the very least with Cooper, in the future if he keeps playing well in Preseason or during the season (hopefully only during mop up duty)...maybe you can get a draft pick for him. I don't think you have to worry about the chances of some team offering a draft pick for Moore.

So maybe get a future draft pick from Cooper if he continues to look good vs no chance with Moore.

Also the idea that maybe another club sees the cowboys put Cooper on Waivers hoping to sign him to a practice squad....and some other team snatches him up like what happened with matt moore. We lose what seems to be a nice up and coming player doing well. If we lose Kellen Moore...not too many people with be too upset.

Let's face it Kellen Moore is not a great or even decent back up like we had in Kitna.

I don't mind a older Vet guy to be a backup QB and to help Dak along the way do to EXP not just in the game but in football life in general. However I don't see that with Moore. So give me the guy that has more upside and who could possibly get us a pick in the future ala like Green Bay used to do.

I haven't seen it mentioned, but if you're a good team expecting to pick in the bottom of the draft, developing a QB that can play is the absolute best, and really only, way to get future talent that's only available at the top of the draft.

For a team with a franchise QB in place, and looking like a team that will probably pick pretty low if Dak is healthy, this gives Rush a significant future Expected Value.

*If* he can keep it up, he not only gives you 2-3 years of backup QB play, but you can then leverage him into a high 1st, or multiple picks.

Even if you don't get some crazy deal, you can pick up valuable picks. That makes him valuable, much more valuable than Kellen Moore.

He's also extremely intelligent. That was his biggest asset coming out. Combine that with the fact that he has a much more significant ROI and looks like he can actually play a little bit, and it's a no brainer.

This is all contingent on him continuing to play like he has been.

 

[jday]

When he gets stats, its all the craze, when he does nothing, its all the craze.

Taco looked bad in training camp and has looked over matched in preseason as well. Do we see little glimpses and some positves? Sure, but the guy should be showing up much more than he does.

I disagree on the point that he should be showing up more than he does. You need only catalog every defensive end rookie preseason in the history of preseason to know expecting much more than what he is done is expecting way too much of rookie...particular one that was like the 5th or 6th defensive end taken. That's what the first round moniker tends to leave out. You are wanting top of the first round production and you are going to be disappointed.

 

[jday]

Agreed that Cooper Rush is better than Kellen Moore.

Don't think either are viable NFL QBs though.

It is actually a bit soon to say one way or another regarding Cooper. You won't hear any argument from me saying that of Kellen. Thus far, though, Cooper has checked every box. Is there a throw you are still waiting for him to make? Or are you simply playing the odds?

 

[jday]

How much was due to the injury? Hard to say, seeing how this was his 1st outing since Jan 0f 2016 I think some of what I saw is a guy being over aggressive and over running the play. However we may look at it as I said they will go back and look at the tape and move on from there. I think getting this game under his belt will only increase his confidence and hopefully allow him to settle in to the position.

That's fair. Truth be told, there was a high degree of knee jerk in my assessment; it is only 1 game after all.

 

[casmith07]

Moore Vs. Rush

I agree entirely with you. This should not be up for debate. Cooper Rush should be the backup, period. Cut Moore, cut McCown, and go with Cooper - he'll get valuable second team reps all season and could potentially turn into trade bait for a QB-starved team too stupid to sign Kaepernick. Kellen Moore has reached his ceiling. Cooper Rush may also never get any better than he is now...but he's already better than Moore.

2016 Jaylon Smith Vs. 2017 Jaylon Smith

I think people are excited because he looks a lot better than everyone not named Hitchens or Lee already...which would be a huge boon.

That said, I think 2018 Jaylon Smith is where we'll see his true potential -- it usually takes a year for a player to get his confidence in his body back. I think, also, we'll see the same from Scandrick this year after his ACL -- great season coming up.

Taco Game 1 Vs Taco Game 2 & 3

Taco Charlton will be a good player for us. I think he'll be consistent, solid, and will flash at times moreso than Demarcus Lawrence flashed early. I think as he sees more NFL tackles, he'll continue to develop and will do well for us.

2016 Dak to Dez Connection Vs 2017 Dak to Dez Connection

RIP NFL. That's my thought - that entire sequence was perfect: snap, look off the safety, come back, throw the back shoulder, Dez adjusts, catches, breaks tackle, and scores.

Good luck, defenses. Because if you cover that right, it's probably 99% likely that Beasley is running WFO under the middle.

 

[LandryFan]

Jaylon does, however, have the much higher ceiling; he just needs more confidence in his right knee before he can realize his full potential.

I hope you're right and that it's a matter of "confidence", and not a matter of "he physically can't". And even if he physically can't, it may be a matter of he "physically can't right now" but will be able to a little ways down the road. His physical improvement up to now, combined with his intelligence and work ethic give me optimism that he will get there. Time will tell.

 

[CATCH17]

I felt Jaylon did a very good job. I was not expecting mid season form. I was watching a kid who has missed over a year of football get back out on the field for the 1st time and was very active on the field. He will go back look at tape and suit up next weekend and look to continue improving.

For me it's not about form.

It looks like he can't physically cut quickly. He looks like Jaylon Smith going North and South and looks like a retired NFL linebacker going east and west.

 

[jday]

I agree entirely with you. This should not be up for debate. Cooper Rush should be the backup, period. Cut Moore, cut McCown, and go with Cooper - he'll get valuable second team reps all season and could potentially turn into trade bait for a QB-starved team too stupid to sign Kaepernick. Kellen Moore has reached his ceiling. Cooper Rush may also never get any better than he is now...but he's already better than Moore.



I think people are excited because he looks a lot better than everyone not named Hitchens or Lee already...which would be a huge boon.

That said, I think 2018 Jaylon Smith is where we'll see his true potential -- it usually takes a year for a player to get his confidence in his body back. I think, also, we'll see the same from Scandrick this year after his ACL -- great season coming up.



Taco Charlton will be a good player for us. I think he'll be consistent, solid, and will flash at times moreso than Demarcus Lawrence flashed early. I think as he sees more NFL tackles, he'll continue to develop and will do well for us.



RIP NFL. That's my thought - that entire sequence was perfect: snap, look off the safety, come back, throw the back shoulder, Dez adjusts, catches, breaks tackle, and scores.

Good luck, defenses. Because if you cover that right, it's probably 99% likely that Beasley is running WFO under the middle.

Epic response, as usual Cas...thanks for stopping by!

I honestly don't know how anyone can argue Kellen's side anymore with a straight face...listening to Babe during the broadcast was hilarious because it was so painfully obvious that Kellen will never be a viable option. I actually felt kinda bad for both him and Broadus, who was a bit of an *** on 105.3 Friday about Kellen being better than Rush. Saturday night made Broadus (and Babe) look like complete idiots. I'm not saying they are idiots, but they have clearly missed the proverbial boat on Kellen.

I think you are spot on with Jaylon with one slight caveat; given his commitment to improvement, we may see some vast improvement over the course of this year and by the end he could be as advertised. But, you are probably right about 2018.

That's the over/under I have in mind for Taco: Solid. Not special...you have to find your defensive end sooner than 28 to find special, as a general rule. But solid seems to be a reasonable expectation.

Like I said, with or without Zeke, this offense is going to be a handful to slow down.

 

[Doomsday101]

That's fair. Truth be told, there was a high degree of knee jerk in my assessment; it is only 1 game after all.

well not even just the 1st game but the 1st game after a long journey he has been through. I think getting this game under his belt is big for him and he can look at things he needs to improve on. I also think it gives him confidence getting through those snaps in live action

 

[Doomsday101]

For me it's not about form.

It looks like he can't physically cut quickly. He looks like Jaylon Smith going North and South and looks like a retired NFL linebacker going east and west.

That is your view. We will see him again in this next game and go from there.

 

[bayeslife]

It's time for Kellen to retire.


Now the question we should be asking is if we would rather have Rush as our #2 or some other veteran.


Jaylon changing directions was not good. It still blows my mind that Dallas used a premium 2nd round pick on this guy when it looks like it's going to take a full 2 years for him to recover and even then he may not recover.


I don't even think he can play special teams so will Jaylon even be active on Sundays?

It seems like Jaylon's play Saturday is very polarizing as far as how well he performed. You have the side that thinks he had a change of direction problem and the camp that thinks he just overran running lanes but otherwise looked good.