Pre-season Scattershooting

[jterrell]

Like it nor not getting spanked all pre-season is "part of the process".

The true down-side to that is week 1 we will likely look pretty bad. We don't tackle for anything.

The upside is the 0-4 lay down model has proven to be a boon to health. Guys don't play with hangnails or headaches. The guys who do play really try but we hold out 2 ot 3 times as many guys as our opponents every week. It is not a recipe for pre-season wins. But 12 wins last year suggest 0-4 pre-seasons are GOOD news.

I give up arguing about RB. I believe they'll be MORE than fine but I am in a very small club. That's never bothered me before and doesn't now. We'll all know is a few weeks then the told you so's can begin. But either side trying to issue I told you so's over pre-season games need to buy a football for dummies book.

Vaughn struggling versus a 3-4 zone blitz scheme shouldn't alarm anyone. The reason Campo was shocked the 49ers used it in pre-season is that is a tweak you prefer to not have on tape. Once you know whose coming and make adjustments, it loses it's entire purpose. Vaughn very likely had never seen that defense before on a field of play. It's good for him to get to see that now. It just increases his development rate.

True concerns:
I believe we have very few WRs on this team who can get open and also catch the football. Dez, Bease, TWill, Witten, Escobar. Dead stop. David Porter seemed to blow minds because he actually got open and caught the ball. Our bar at WR is really low.

Our return game can not rely on Lucky Whitehead. I think he's quick as can be and would love to see him hit the practice squad and gain some strength and weight. But that poor dude might get killed on a return right now. We really don't have a return guy at all. That's a spot I would upgrade by week 2 for sure!

Darrion Weems has done good things in the past. But that past is getting all too distant. The past two weeks have been bad and then awful. He was fooled by stunts, beaten by speed and beaten by bull rushes. It is hard to lose more consistently and in more ways. I am not panicked because I don't think the guy was going to ever really play anyway but our 8 man OL is really 7 now. At some point that number needs to edge back up. 7 is manageable but it is scary.

Left End has to stop the run. DLaw looks like a pretty good developing player but I don't think he holds up to NFL run games every down at LE. That is a worry for me week 1. Week 3 I expect to see Mincey over there a lot on 1st down.

Surprises and other notes:
I was one of the few folks who had Randy Gregory pegged as an our of the 1st round guy. I didn't buy in at all. But I can completely admit already that whatever his many limitations that dude has tremendous natural pass rush skill. I mean more natural than DWare. Now that is hardly to say he'll ever be half as good as DWare, just that as a pure pass rusher he has more natural skill. Ware obviously had everything else by far. Strength, speed, professionalism, toughness.

Lots of talk of 2 QBs on the roster but I'd lean to four before I went two. Showers isn't going to be a QB on the field for this team this year and maybe not even next. But he might be a top 5 special teamer and he might even be a kick off return option. He's essentially built like a big DB, small LB so he's about the perfect size/speed for a ST guy. If I gotta keep McCray as a 4th safety or Showers as a 4th QB, I'd lean to Showers. And I already pointed out I don't think we have much depth at WR so I can steal a spot there too. Light at WR and S by talent with enough help at TE and CB to make up for it.

For the foreseeable future, we (as Cowboys fans) need to plan our vacations across week 1 and 2 of the pre-season. Come week 4 it is easy enough to just ignore the white noise and focus on the season but this early it is really hard to ignore ugly football.

One positive is no one will accuse this team of peaking early.

 

[erod]

Agre with much of that, but if we have five receivers that can get open and catch the ball, is that "very few"?

 

[Ken]

Overall a good analysis. I disagree on Whitehead, I think he can be our return guy. I haven't seen him take a good shot yet though.

I also agree on the running backs but I am getting concerned with our lackadaisical approach to the preseason.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Overall a good analysis. I disagree on Whitehead, I think he can be our return guy. I haven't seen him take a good shot yet though.

I also agree on the running backs but I am getting concerned with our lackadaisical approach to the preseason.

Hard to hit what you can't see. That guy is a blur.

 

[DallasEast]

I agree with much of the assessment. Preseason wins are luxury items, not necessities. The RB club may be small but you're not alone. Barring season-ending health concerns, the angst is completely unnecessary in my opinion.

I think we have more than enough receiving options that can create consistent separation. Hopefully, we will not see Bryant have any significant downtime during the season though.

Weems has become my biggest concern so far. I will re-watch this preseason game effort but I don't think there is anything more I will see that'll contradict your opinion. My thoughts on Lawrence aren't as negative. He's the other player I wish to re-watch.

 

[Idgit]

Good stuff. Probably because I agree with it all

Swing OT and a return guy I'd be looking for at cutdowns. I don't think we've got our guys there yet.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Like it nor not getting spanked all pre-season is "part of the process".

The true down-side to that is week 1 we will likely look pretty bad. We don't tackle for anything.

The upside is the 0-4 lay down model has proven to be a boon to health. Guys don't play with hangnails or headaches. The guys who do play really try but we hold out 2 ot 3 times as many guys as our opponents every week. It is not a recipe for pre-season wins. But 12 wins last year suggest 0-4 pre-seasons are GOOD news.

I give up arguing about RB. I believe they'll be MORE than fine but I am in a very small club. That's never bothered me before and doesn't now. We'll all know is a few weeks then the told you so's can begin. But either side trying to issue I told you so's over pre-season games need to buy a football for dummies book.

Vaughn struggling versus a 3-4 zone blitz scheme shouldn't alarm anyone. The reason Campo was shocked the 49ers used it in pre-season is that is a tweak you prefer to not have on tape. Once you know whose coming and make adjustments, it loses it's entire purpose. Vaughn very likely had never seen that defense before on a field of play. It's good for him to get to see that now. It just increases his development rate.

True concerns:
I believe we have very few WRs on this team who can get open and also catch the football. Dez, Bease, TWill, Witten, Escobar. Dead stop. David Porter seemed to blow minds because he actually got open and caught the ball. Our bar at WR is really low.

Our return game can not rely on Lucky Whitehead. I think he's quick as can be and would love to see him hit the practice squad and gain some strength and weight. But that poor dude might get killed on a return right now. We really don't have a return guy at all. That's a spot I would upgrade by week 2 for sure!

Darrion Weems has done good things in the past. But that past is getting all too distant. The past two weeks have been bad and then awful. He was fooled by stunts, beaten by speed and beaten by bull rushes. It is hard to lose more consistently and in more ways. I am not panicked because I don't think the guy was going to ever really play anyway but our 8 man OL is really 7 now. At some point that number needs to edge back up. 7 is manageable but it is scary.

Left End has to stop the run. DLaw looks like a pretty good developing player but I don't think he holds up to NFL run games every down at LE. That is a worry for me week 1. Week 3 I expect to see Mincey over there a lot on 1st down.

Surprises and other notes:
I was one of the few folks who had Randy Gregory pegged as an our of the 1st round guy. I didn't buy in at all. But I can completely admit already that whatever his many limitations that dude has tremendous natural pass rush skill. I mean more natural than DWare. Now that is hardly to say he'll ever be half as good as DWare, just that as a pure pass rusher he has more natural skill. Ware obviously had everything else by far. Strength, speed, professionalism, toughness.

Lots of talk of 2 QBs on the roster but I'd lean to four before I went two. Showers isn't going to be a QB on the field for this team this year and maybe not even next. But he might be a top 5 special teamer and he might even be a kick off return option. He's essentially built like a big DB, small LB so he's about the perfect size/speed for a ST guy. If I gotta keep McCray as a 4th safety or Showers as a 4th QB, I'd lean to Showers. And I already pointed out I don't think we have much depth at WR so I can steal a spot there too. Light at WR and S by talent with enough help at TE and CB to make up for it.

For the foreseeable future, we (as Cowboys fans) need to plan our vacations across week 1 and 2 of the pre-season. Come week 4 it is easy enough to just ignore the white noise and focus on the season but this early it is really hard to ignore ugly football.

One positive is no one will accuse this team of peaking early.

now we understand why we drafted tackles....the teams, scouts and coaches know something that we don't (oh, this will surprise a few). although Chaz Green has been injured, but it explains the draft reasoning above a RB

 

[Mr Cowboy]

I give up arguing about RB. I believe they'll be MORE than fine but I am in a very small club. That's never bothered me before and doesn't now. We'll all know is a few weeks then the told you so's can begin. But either side trying to issue I told you so's over pre-season games need to buy a football for dummies book.

Agree with this, I think McFadden will do well, and Randle will do OK as well. I have no idea why Dunbar is still on the team.

As for the rest of the team, I think that they need to play the starters for an extended period of time together. I really don't think that playing them a series this upcoming game, will prepare them for the start of the season. They can't just show up week one and flip the switch. The defense should be alright, but the offense needs much work as a team.

 

[gimmesix]

I give up arguing about RB. I believe they'll be MORE than fine but I am in a very small club. That's never bothered me before and doesn't now. We'll all know is a few weeks then the told you so's can begin. But either side trying to issue I told you so's over pre-season games need to buy a football for dummies book.

I believe we have very few WRs on this team who can get open and also catch the football. Dez, Bease, TWill, Witten, Escobar. Dead stop. David Porter seemed to blow minds because he actually got open and caught the ball. Our bar at WR is really low.

Our return game can not rely on Lucky Whitehead. I think he's quick as can be and would love to see him hit the practice squad and gain some strength and weight. But that poor dude might get killed on a return right now. We really don't have a return guy at all. That's a spot I would upgrade by week 2 for sure!

I agree that Sunday didn't tell us much about the running game, but I really have trouble understanding how some can staunchly defend an unproven rushing attack and be concerned about our receivers and Whitehead.

Williams and Street ate up San Diego's coverage and didn't get much of an opportunity to do the same Sunday because of Romo not being in the game long and the other QBs being under duress. I think by the time we get down to players like Porter, we're no longer discussing real roster options. Dez, Williams, Beasley and Street will be the main receivers, with Whitehead playing more of a specialty role like Harris did and Witten and Escobar providing tight end targets. I think that's more good pass-catching targets than a lot of teams have.

On Whitehead, I've liked the burst and decisiveness I've seen on returns, and the only concern is securing the ball based on his fumble against San Diego and bobble against San Francisco. He's small, but he's quick.

 

[DogFace]

Like others I agree with most of this. Good point about how we take no chances with hurt players and this may pay off.
I'm not sold on Vaughn at all though. Yes I'm sure the d confused him but missing easy throws like he did a few times means he's not accurate. And at this point in his career won't get better at that. He's below average at best. I feel Showers throws it better and is at least elusive and fast.

 

[CCBoy]

Vaughn struggling versus a 3-4 zone blitz scheme shouldn't alarm anyone. The reason Campo was shocked the 49ers used it in pre-season is that is a tweak you prefer to not have on tape. Once you know whose coming and make adjustments, it loses it's entire purpose. Vaughn very likely had never seen that defense before on a field of play. It's good for him to get to see that now. It just increases his development rate.

That may have an immediate affect to the .2 second processing time all brains take, but he was slow last week in getting the ball to his intended target, as well. He pulls the trigger on his delivery, pretty late on plays...seems to me. And I like Vaughn.

 

[jterrell]

Agre with much of that, but if we have five receivers that can get open and catch the ball, is that "very few"?

when 2 of the 5 are tight ends, yes it is very few.

 

[jterrell]

Hard to hit what you can't see. That guy is a blur.

he has 9 total returns and 2 fumbles.
his average yardage is more than fine but his fumble total is not.
the concern i have is physically he can't prevent strips or hard hits forcing the ball free at this point.

 

[jterrell]

I agree that Sunday didn't tell us much about the running game, but I really have trouble understanding how some can staunchly defend an unproven rushing attack and be concerned about our receivers and Whitehead.

Williams and Street ate up San Diego's coverage and didn't get much of an opportunity to do the same Sunday because of Romo not being in the game long and the other QBs being under duress. I think by the time we get down to players like Porter, we're no longer discussing real roster options. Dez, Williams, Beasley and Street will be the main receivers, with Whitehead playing more of a specialty role like Harris did and Witten and Escobar providing tight end targets. I think that's more good pass-catching targets than a lot of teams have.

On Whitehead, I've liked the burst and decisiveness I've seen on returns, and the only concern is securing the ball based on his fumble against San Diego and bobble against San Francisco. He's small, but he's quick.

At RB we have guys who have proven they can play. As much as the fan base pretends all these guys fell off a turnip truck they have NFL skins on the wall.
McFadden has averaged over 5.0 yards per carry twice. Randle did it last year. Dunbar has shown elite quickness on little screens and passes to the flats. All 3 know how to block.

At WR guys literally do not get open. It was an issue for TWill a lot last year and Street has never really gotten open. You'd expect a guy like Street to come in and be option one in the passing game this pre-season. 2nd year, former draft pick. But he has 3 catches this pre-season and had 2 all last year. Escobar and Swain have been by far our biggest pass catching targets. That's not a good sign for WR depth.

For a returner securing the ball is job one. Those turnover flat lose games because they generally occur fairly deep in your own end. Whitehead doesn't look like he can physically withstand those hits and maintain control of the ball.

 

[DeaconMoss]

he has 9 total returns and 2 fumbles.
his average yardage is more than fine but his fumble total is not.
the concern i have is physically he can't prevent strips or hard hits forcing the ball free at this point.

I know he fumbled the first game, and I didn't see him fumble last night. I think it was Harwell that dropped the punt but he recovered it. I may be wrong though.

 

[ShiningStar]

Vaughn struggling versus a 3-4 zone blitz scheme shouldn't alarm anyone. The reason Campo was shocked the 49ers used it in pre-season is that is a tweak you prefer to not have on tape. Once you know whose coming and make adjustments, it loses it's entire purpose. Vaughn very likely had never seen that defense before on a field of play. It's good for him to get to see that now. It just increases his development rate.

That may have an immediate affect to the .2 second processing time all brains take, but he was slow last week in getting the ball to his intended target, as well. He pulls the trigger on his delivery, pretty late on plays...seems to me. And I like Vaughn.

i dont know if he has much of a devlopment rate at this point and if we have the tme to play around UNLESS he knows hes going to be a career back up. Im all for moving past him as the future.

 

[DeaconMoss]

he has 9 total returns and 2 fumbles.
his average yardage is more than fine but his fumble total is not.
the concern i have is physically he can't prevent strips or hard hits forcing the ball free at this point.

"After losing a fumble in San Diego during his preseason debut, Whitehead made it through Sunday night’s game against San Francisco without a turnover."

The box score lied to you..I think it was Harwell. Gotta watch the games man.
http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...ing-more-comfortable-in-the-return-game.html/

 

[windjc]

Like it nor not getting spanked all pre-season is "part of the process".

The true down-side to that is week 1 we will likely look pretty bad. We don't tackle for anything.

The upside is the 0-4 lay down model has proven to be a boon to health. Guys don't play with hangnails or headaches. The guys who do play really try but we hold out 2 ot 3 times as many guys as our opponents every week. It is not a recipe for pre-season wins. But 12 wins last year suggest 0-4 pre-seasons are GOOD news.

I give up arguing about RB. I believe they'll be MORE than fine but I am in a very small club. That's never bothered me before and doesn't now. We'll all know is a few weeks then the told you so's can begin. But either side trying to issue I told you so's over pre-season games need to buy a football for dummies book.

Vaughn struggling versus a 3-4 zone blitz scheme shouldn't alarm anyone. The reason Campo was shocked the 49ers used it in pre-season is that is a tweak you prefer to not have on tape. Once you know whose coming and make adjustments, it loses it's entire purpose. Vaughn very likely had never seen that defense before on a field of play. It's good for him to get to see that now. It just increases his development rate.

True concerns:
I believe we have very few WRs on this team who can get open and also catch the football. Dez, Bease, TWill, Witten, Escobar. Dead stop. David Porter seemed to blow minds because he actually got open and caught the ball. Our bar at WR is really low.

Our return game can not rely on Lucky Whitehead. I think he's quick as can be and would love to see him hit the practice squad and gain some strength and weight. But that poor dude might get killed on a return right now. We really don't have a return guy at all. That's a spot I would upgrade by week 2 for sure!

Darrion Weems has done good things in the past. But that past is getting all too distant. The past two weeks have been bad and then awful. He was fooled by stunts, beaten by speed and beaten by bull rushes. It is hard to lose more consistently and in more ways. I am not panicked because I don't think the guy was going to ever really play anyway but our 8 man OL is really 7 now. At some point that number needs to edge back up. 7 is manageable but it is scary.

Left End has to stop the run. DLaw looks like a pretty good developing player but I don't think he holds up to NFL run games every down at LE. That is a worry for me week 1. Week 3 I expect to see Mincey over there a lot on 1st down.

Surprises and other notes:
I was one of the few folks who had Randy Gregory pegged as an our of the 1st round guy. I didn't buy in at all. But I can completely admit already that whatever his many limitations that dude has tremendous natural pass rush skill. I mean more natural than DWare. Now that is hardly to say he'll ever be half as good as DWare, just that as a pure pass rusher he has more natural skill. Ware obviously had everything else by far. Strength, speed, professionalism, toughness.

Lots of talk of 2 QBs on the roster but I'd lean to four before I went two. Showers isn't going to be a QB on the field for this team this year and maybe not even next. But he might be a top 5 special teamer and he might even be a kick off return option. He's essentially built like a big DB, small LB so he's about the perfect size/speed for a ST guy. If I gotta keep McCray as a 4th safety or Showers as a 4th QB, I'd lean to Showers. And I already pointed out I don't think we have much depth at WR so I can steal a spot there too. Light at WR and S by talent with enough help at TE and CB to make up for it.

For the foreseeable future, we (as Cowboys fans) need to plan our vacations across week 1 and 2 of the pre-season. Come week 4 it is easy enough to just ignore the white noise and focus on the season but this early it is really hard to ignore ugly football.

One positive is no one will accuse this team of peaking early.

I agree with a lot of this. However you are a Vaughn apologist. Vaughn had a year to watch tape of defenses and study them and prepare for them. Saying he was surprised is not an excuse. His mechanics and decision making were terrible.

Whitehead looks fine on returns to me.

 

[Fletch]

Agre with much of that, but if we have five receivers that can get open and catch the ball, is that "very few"?

Yes. We need ten at the very least.

 

[Idgit]

I agree with a lot of this. However you are a Vaughn apologist. Vaughn had a year to watch tape of defenses and study them and prepare for them. Saying he was surprised is not an excuse. His mechanics and decision making were terrible.

Whitehead looks fine on returns to me.

I'm one who thinks the Vaughan criticism from last night was overblown, too. But maybe I'm just not seeing it. What about his mechanics are you seeing that was awful?

And his decision making on the two picks, at least, wasn't wrong at all. He had guys on both plays. With the pressure he was getting on the pick-6, he went right to the open guy. He had the ball too low, but the decision wasn't bad. Neither was it the wrong read on the second pick, I don't think. He just didn't place the ball exactly, and the defender made a very nice play on it in the air.

For Vaughan, his questions aren't with his arm or his ability to take a hit. He needs things to slow down. And he needs to prove that he can make decisions under pressure faster than he did last night. But the guy has the build and the smarts and the arm and the will to take a hit. He's actually got a lot going for him. If he weren't targeting the right players under pressure, I'd have more issues with him than I do with him not doing it quite fast enough.