CFZ Preseason Game 1 Post Mortem

[PAPPYDOG]

I was at the game in Denver last night and came away with a few observations I think could be important going forward. Before I even say anything let me say win, lose, or draw it was great to see the Cowboys back on the field for the first time this season.

#1) QB
Cooper Rush probably is not going to make the roster this year. Yes the guy won you the Minnesota game last season, but wow he missed on quite a few makable throws against Denver's practice squad DBs, couldn't set his feet, and the offense was stagnant with him in there. Say what you want about Ben DiNucci but he looked significantly better last night and it wasn't really close. I want to see what Will Grier can do for us too. I'll be interested to see what happens going forward, but the backup position is starting to get out of Rush's reach in my opinion. I don't love any of the options but someone has to win.

#2) Offensive Line
Tyler Smith was DOMINANT last night outside of the two penalties. The dude is still a raw prospect, but I was specifically watching all of his reps out there and he was blasting people out of the way in the run game and had nice, light feet and heavy hands in the pass game. I like the trajectory here and Dallas may have found a good one.

Additionally, Josh ball is really not very good. The technical term for his play last night is burnt toast. What a disappointing pick. I think there is a chance he is cut before game 1. I hated the pick from day one given his legal history so I am glad to see a guy like that go. Outside of that, not a whole lot else I could glean from the position group.

#3) Kicker is a Problem
The answer is not on the roster. Jerry needs to get a grip and find a vet that can give you league average play. Of course, there are another 2 kickers on the roster that didn't kick last night, but none of them have played meaningful NFL time.

#4) This Team is UNDISCIPLINED
I understand it was a preseason game, but 17 penalties is completely and utterly unacceptable. Do you think a Tom Landry coached team would routinely show up and post 10+ penalties a game? Not a chance. I do not know what it is going to take to fix this problem, but our guys see no issue committing a blatant penalty and throwing their arms up at the refs. I place this squarely on Jerry and the culture he has developed around this organization. Something has got to give, but Dallas will not win anything if they keep it up with sloppy play like this.

Chill out dang.....PRE-Season is exactly that pre-season......give these kids a break esp our top rooks as they need some NFL experience under their belts.
Sometimes good things take time......

 

[CowboyRoy]

I was at the game in Denver last night and came away with a few observations I think could be important going forward. Before I even say anything let me say win, lose, or draw it was great to see the Cowboys back on the field for the first time this season.

#1) QB
Cooper Rush probably is not going to make the roster this year. Yes the guy won you the Minnesota game last season, but wow he missed on quite a few makable throws against Denver's practice squad DBs, couldn't set his feet, and the offense was stagnant with him in there. Say what you want about Ben DiNucci but he looked significantly better last night and it wasn't really close. I want to see what Will Grier can do for us too. I'll be interested to see what happens going forward, but the backup position is starting to get out of Rush's reach in my opinion. I don't love any of the options but someone has to win.

#2) Offensive Line
Tyler Smith was DOMINANT last night outside of the two penalties. The dude is still a raw prospect, but I was specifically watching all of his reps out there and he was blasting people out of the way in the run game and had nice, light feet and heavy hands in the pass game. I like the trajectory here and Dallas may have found a good one.

Additionally, Josh ball is really not very good. The technical term for his play last night is burnt toast. What a disappointing pick. I think there is a chance he is cut before game 1. I hated the pick from day one given his legal history so I am glad to see a guy like that go. Outside of that, not a whole lot else I could glean from the position group.

#3) Kicker is a Problem
The answer is not on the roster. Jerry needs to get a grip and find a vet that can give you league average play. Of course, there are another 2 kickers on the roster that didn't kick last night, but none of them have played meaningful NFL time.

#4) This Team is UNDISCIPLINED
I understand it was a preseason game, but 17 penalties is completely and utterly unacceptable. Do you think a Tom Landry coached team would routinely show up and post 10+ penalties a game? Not a chance. I do not know what it is going to take to fix this problem, but our guys see no issue committing a blatant penalty and throwing their arms up at the refs. I place this squarely on Jerry and the culture he has developed around this organization. Something has got to give, but Dallas will not win anything if they keep it up with sloppy play like this.

Running game looking better with Tyron healthy and Tyler right next to him. Badass should be improved.

Pass protection probably not as good. Oline will be a disaster once Tyron goes down.

So did yesterday show us that Tolbert and Foheko are the 2 and 3 right now? Or was Foheko just filling in for Lamb on the outside and houston was the slot guy?

 

[CowboyRoy]

Thanks for the analysis.
On the broadcast with the Dallas announcers. They said it was not a hold on Smith on his 2nd one.
The refs did not call at least 5 on the Broncos. Then again GB, Denver, SF, Pittsburgh for the past 40 years been getting away with holding calls if not longer. That trend continues.

There is no ref trend. There is no conspiracy. You just need to accept that some of these players just aren't good enough to play without cheating. Bad calls are made, but there is NO conspiracy.

 

[CowboyRoy]

It is simply too late to “find” a real kicker at this point. They are all on rosters already so you are left with those not good enough to be on the other 31 teams.

Kicker and OT are the places where Jerry really screwed up this year.

You could say as much about backup QB and 3rd RB, but that happens every year.

 

[zerofill]

See... that is what happens when you let a superstar like Rico Gathers go.

 

[FVSTONE]

I was at the game in Denver last night and came away with a few observations I think could be important going forward. Before I even say anything let me say win, lose, or draw it was great to see the Cowboys back on the field for the first time this season.

#1) QB
Cooper Rush probably is not going to make the roster this year. Yes the guy won you the Minnesota game last season, but wow he missed on quite a few makable throws against Denver's practice squad DBs, couldn't set his feet, and the offense was stagnant with him in there. Say what you want about Ben DiNucci but he looked significantly better last night and it wasn't really close. I want to see what Will Grier can do for us too. I'll be interested to see what happens going forward, but the backup position is starting to get out of Rush's reach in my opinion. I don't love any of the options but someone has to win.

#2) Offensive Line
Tyler Smith was DOMINANT last night outside of the two penalties. The dude is still a raw prospect, but I was specifically watching all of his reps out there and he was blasting people out of the way in the run game and had nice, light feet and heavy hands in the pass game. I like the trajectory here and Dallas may have found a good one.

Additionally, Josh ball is really not very good. The technical term for his play last night is burnt toast. What a disappointing pick. I think there is a chance he is cut before game 1. I hated the pick from day one given his legal history so I am glad to see a guy like that go. Outside of that, not a whole lot else I could glean from the position group.

#3) Kicker is a Problem
The answer is not on the roster. Jerry needs to get a grip and find a vet that can give you league average play. Of course, there are another 2 kickers on the roster that didn't kick last night, but none of them have played meaningful NFL time.

#4) This Team is UNDISCIPLINED
I understand it was a preseason game, but 17 penalties is completely and utterly unacceptable. Do you think a Tom Landry coached team would routinely show up and post 10+ penalties a game? Not a chance. I do not know what it is going to take to fix this problem, but our guys see no issue committing a blatant penalty and throwing their arms up at the refs. I place this squarely on Jerry and the culture he has developed around this organization. Something has got to give, but Dallas will not win anything if they keep it up with sloppy play like this.

I'll go with Number 4 all day long! Penalty flags rain down anytime the Cowboys are on the field! MM needs/should be fired ASAP!

 

[visionary]

Undisciplined team
No accountability

mccarthy is all talk just like Garrett was

Will “be relevant” but no championship

 

[Joe Realist]

Kicker, O-line and Penalties will be problems all year long for this team, and it may cost MM his job.

7-10.