Preseason Game 2 reactions (and overreactions)

I'd like to see Milton with the 1's in preseason but that won't happen here. His role will be to come in if Dak gets hurt, so get him accustomed to playing with the 1's. I always chuckle when during a big game, the QB gets hurt and the backup comes in and first thing out of the announcer's mouth is, "he hasn't practiced much with the 1's so he'll be out of sync with the receivers and center exchange."
 
Reality said:
He was targeted 5 times and caught 3. One he got lucky on that the defender hit his helmet so it negated his drop.

I haven't checked yet but my guess is when Howell's weaker arm got in there it made it easier for him to catch them.
Click to expand...
And that drop was on a ball that could not have been more perfect.
 
Milton looks like a 1st round pick. The difference from last year is night and day. He's extending plays, stepping into throws, using anticipation and throwing beautiful passes. If he were playing in college he'd be setting the conference on fire. We may have Dak's successor.
 
big dog cowboy said:
Far more to like than not like tonight. For the most part the Cowboys played with confidence and looked like they wanted to make a play on every snap. These backups are impressing me.

What I liked:
  • Joe Milton was the story. He looked confident, made plays with his arm and legs, and finished with 3 total TDs. At this point, it’s hard not to say he’s pulled ahead of Sam Howell for QB2. If you want to write QB2 behind his name in ink it's understandable.
  • The offense had some real explosiveness. The Mingo touchdown was a huge play, and Dallas wasn't just dink-and-dunking its way down the field. With the camp he has had plus games like tonight it's hard to see him not on the 53.
  • Camden Brown keeps making noise. He led the team with 77 receiving yards. For a young receiver fighting for a roster spot, that's exactly what you want to see. I wanted him to get that TD though!
  • Jaydon Blue looked good running the ball. He finished with 75 rushing yards, including some impressive individual plays. Loved Mafah's TD run too.
  • The defense is giving you reason to be optimistic. Dallas held Arizona to 13 points and came up with some big plays, including Shavon Revel's interception.
  • The young guys are actually making plays. Jaishawn Barham, Revel and LT Overton all had moments that stood out. That's encouraging when you're looking at the depth of this roster. Compared to last years scrubs, the difference is very noticeable. CP has the guys going in the right direction.
  • Dallas played well on long drives. The Cowboys had several sustained possessions rather than relying entirely on big plays. That included an 11-play, 57-yard drive in the third quarter.
  • Brandon Aubrey looked dependable. He hit field goals from 50 and 29 yards, which is encouraging considering how important consistency from the kicker will be during the regular season. Not letting him try the 65 yarder at the end of the 1st half was a lost opportunity.
  • 2–0 feels good. Obviously preseason wins don't mean much, but going 2–0 while seeing young players develop is certainly better than watching the team struggle.
What I didn't like
  • Sam Howell did himself no favors. The interception was particularly bad because it came after Milton had played so well. If this was supposed to be a legitimate QB2 competition, Milton is starting to create some separation. In fact, it could be over.
  • The offense didn't finish the first drive. Dallas moved the ball well but couldn't punch it in on fourth down. In the Red Zone no less! Against better competition, you can't keep leaving points on the field.
  • The defense wasn't perfect. Arizona had some success moving the ball, and the Cardinals actually had two touchdowns wiped out by penalties on one drive. So the 13 points don't tell the entire story.
  • It's still preseason. This is the biggest caveat. A lot of these guys were playing against backups, and you don't want to suddenly declare Dallas a Super Bowl contender because they beat Arizona 34–13.
  • Arizona was able to sustain a 14-play drive. The Cardinals went 59 yards over 7:37 in the second quarter. Even though they settled for a field goal, that's a pretty long stretch for a defense to be on the field.
  • The offensive line is still something I'd watch. The Cowboys need to make sure the backup line can protect whoever is playing QB. That's especially important if Milton ends up being the guy behind Dak. There were a few pretty sketchy plays that starting DL would have made big plays on him.
⭐ My overall grade

Offense: B+
Defense: B+
Young players: A-
QB2 battle: A for Milton, D for Howell

The biggest takeaway for me is not the 34–13 score. It's that (for the second week in a row) Dallas is starting to find some legitimate young players who could matter once the regular season starts. Also, the Cowboys weren't just winning because of one player. They scored in every quarter and had multiple contributors on offense.

The Cowboys looked deeper and more balanced than they did last year, but I still want to see how these young players perform against actual starters before getting too excited. And honestly, Joe Milton is becoming perhaps the most interesting storyline on this roster. If he keeps playing like this, I think the Cowboys should feel very good about having him behind Dak.
Click to expand...
Great write-up. Completely agree about the young players who could matter comment. It was nice to watch a preseason game and not try to convince myself it was just a preseason game when our backups were getting manhandled by the other team's backups (twice so far this preseason).
 
I'm one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, Milton critics going all the way back to Michigan before he even transferred to Tennessee.

The question was never how far or how fast he could throw a football because that's his most elite trait, the strength of his arm.

The question has always been accuracy and touch.

Last night he showed improvement in those areas.
From last night's showing I am very cautiously optimistic that there's actually hope for him to beat 1st stringers if called upon.
BUT in order to be firmly convinced I would need to see continued consistency.

BUT the beating of 1st stringers would mean Dak got hurt so I guess I'll just keep the hopium thing going that he continues to improve.
 
Last edited:
I went back and watched Jaishawn exclusivly

The man has got some serious closing speed….he saw the hole and ran to fill it…..didnt seem to wait until the play was fully in motion before he reacted….

One game…hopefully he builds off this but i loved what i saw


Also idc about the score or winning or losing i care that the team actually looks like they know what sport theyre playing and playing it with fire
 
I may have been wrong about Mingo. I'm still not sold on him being a good NFL WR but he's not as bad as I thought he was. I'd still definitely take Brown over him if it's only going to be 5 WRs who make it but he's probably the 6th-best WR on the team.
 
Runwildboys said:
Camden Brown needs to learn how tall he is...or isn't. Reaching for the goal line and coming up almost a yard short, and losing the ball, lucky he didn't fumble it away.
Click to expand...
True, but did they call that a fumble? My wife and I were talking about that. She said, that's not a fumble, the was tripped up and as soon as the ball or his arm touched the field, it should have been dead.
 
big dog cowboy said:
Far more to like than not like tonight. For the most part the Cowboys played with confidence and looked like they wanted to make a play on every snap. These backups are impressing me.

What I liked:
  • Joe Milton was the story. He looked confident, made plays with his arm and legs, and finished with 3 total TDs. At this point, it’s hard not to say he’s pulled ahead of Sam Howell for QB2. If you want to write QB2 behind his name in ink it's understandable.
  • The offense had some real explosiveness. The Mingo touchdown was a huge play, and Dallas wasn't just dink-and-dunking its way down the field. With the camp he has had plus games like tonight it's hard to see him not on the 53.
  • Camden Brown keeps making noise. He led the team with 77 receiving yards. For a young receiver fighting for a roster spot, that's exactly what you want to see. I wanted him to get that TD though!
  • Jaydon Blue looked good running the ball. He finished with 75 rushing yards, including some impressive individual plays. Loved Mafah's TD run too.
  • The defense is giving you reason to be optimistic. Dallas held Arizona to 13 points and came up with some big plays, including Shavon Revel's interception.
  • The young guys are actually making plays. Jaishawn Barham, Revel and LT Overton all had moments that stood out. That's encouraging when you're looking at the depth of this roster. Compared to last years scrubs, the difference is very noticeable. CP has the guys going in the right direction.
  • Dallas played well on long drives. The Cowboys had several sustained possessions rather than relying entirely on big plays. That included an 11-play, 57-yard drive in the third quarter.
  • Brandon Aubrey looked dependable. He hit field goals from 50 and 29 yards, which is encouraging considering how important consistency from the kicker will be during the regular season. Not letting him try the 65 yarder at the end of the 1st half was a lost opportunity.
  • 2–0 feels good. Obviously preseason wins don't mean much, but going 2–0 while seeing young players develop is certainly better than watching the team struggle.
What I didn't like
  • Sam Howell did himself no favors. The interception was particularly bad because it came after Milton had played so well. If this was supposed to be a legitimate QB2 competition, Milton is starting to create some separation. In fact, it could be over.
  • The offense didn't finish the first drive. Dallas moved the ball well but couldn't punch it in on fourth down. In the Red Zone no less! Against better competition, you can't keep leaving points on the field.
  • The defense wasn't perfect. Arizona had some success moving the ball, and the Cardinals actually had two touchdowns wiped out by penalties on one drive. So the 13 points don't tell the entire story.
  • It's still preseason. This is the biggest caveat. A lot of these guys were playing against backups, and you don't want to suddenly declare Dallas a Super Bowl contender because they beat Arizona 34–13.
  • Arizona was able to sustain a 14-play drive. The Cardinals went 59 yards over 7:37 in the second quarter. Even though they settled for a field goal, that's a pretty long stretch for a defense to be on the field.
  • The offensive line is still something I'd watch. The Cowboys need to make sure the backup line can protect whoever is playing QB. That's especially important if Milton ends up being the guy behind Dak. There were a few pretty sketchy plays that starting DL would have made big plays on him.
⭐ My overall grade

Offense: B+
Defense: B+
Young players: A-
QB2 battle: A for Milton, D for Howell

The biggest takeaway for me is not the 34–13 score. It's that (for the second week in a row) Dallas is starting to find some legitimate young players who could matter once the regular season starts. Also, the Cowboys weren't just winning because of one player. They scored in every quarter and had multiple contributors on offense.

The Cowboys looked deeper and more balanced than they did last year, but I still want to see how these young players perform against actual starters before getting too excited. And honestly, Joe Milton is becoming perhaps the most interesting storyline on this roster. If he keeps playing like this, I think the Cowboys should feel very good about having him behind Dak.
Click to expand...
Excellent post
Thank you
 
Ironicalicon said:
I may have been wrong about Mingo. I'm still not sold on him being a good NFL WR but he's not as bad as I thought he was. I'd still definitely take Brown over him if it's only going to be 5 WRs who make it but he's probably the 6th-best WR on the team.
Click to expand...
He was a gadget guy at Ole Miss. He was kind of similar to Paris Campbell.

I think it’s finally clicking at WR.
 
Overall, very good takes.

Milton looked great and Howell wasn’t bad, other than the one throw that got picked. It is nice to have a backup competition where both have looked competent at the very least.

OT is scary. We don’t have one that we can honestly say is better than average at the moment…and that includes the starters. Shelton was a turnstile and looked like he didn’t know assignments. I really think Dallas has to make a move for a vet swing tackle.

RB is hard to judge. I think Davis is easily the 2nd best RB in the roster and he plays special teams. Blue was bad in the first half and then pretty solid in the second. Mafah didn’t get many touches but the TD run was pretty much all him with a nice block from the backside WR. I’d keep Blue and Mafah and let Luepke walk.

WR looks like we have to keep 6…I am not letting Brown get grabbed by a WR needy team and I have no doubt he will. Mingo has earned a spot with his play as a WR and ST. If I had to go with 5 I would let Turpin go. I just think he has become too tentative as a returner and he really gives nothing as a receiver. Maybe he could bring something in trade….late rounder.

Defense has a lot of questions. I think we are locked in at DT, but OLB is going to be interesting.

The atmosphere around this team feels so much different. For once, the things we hear from the reporters is what we see on the field.
 
big dog cowboy said:
Far more to like than not like tonight. For the most part the Cowboys played with confidence and looked like they wanted to make a play on every snap. These backups are impressing me.

What I liked:
  • Joe Milton was the story. He looked confident, made plays with his arm and legs, and finished with 3 total TDs. At this point, it’s hard not to say he’s pulled ahead of Sam Howell for QB2. If you want to write QB2 behind his name in ink it's understandable.
  • The offense had some real explosiveness. The Mingo touchdown was a huge play, and Dallas wasn't just dink-and-dunking its way down the field. With the camp he has had plus games like tonight it's hard to see him not on the 53.
  • Camden Brown keeps making noise. He led the team with 77 receiving yards. For a young receiver fighting for a roster spot, that's exactly what you want to see. I wanted him to get that TD though!
  • Jaydon Blue looked good running the ball. He finished with 75 rushing yards, including some impressive individual plays. Loved Mafah's TD run too.
  • The defense is giving you reason to be optimistic. Dallas held Arizona to 13 points and came up with some big plays, including Shavon Revel's interception.
  • The young guys are actually making plays. Jaishawn Barham, Revel and LT Overton all had moments that stood out. That's encouraging when you're looking at the depth of this roster. Compared to last years scrubs, the difference is very noticeable. CP has the guys going in the right direction.
  • Dallas played well on long drives. The Cowboys had several sustained possessions rather than relying entirely on big plays. That included an 11-play, 57-yard drive in the third quarter.
  • Brandon Aubrey looked dependable. He hit field goals from 50 and 29 yards, which is encouraging considering how important consistency from the kicker will be during the regular season. Not letting him try the 65 yarder at the end of the 1st half was a lost opportunity.
  • 2–0 feels good. Obviously preseason wins don't mean much, but going 2–0 while seeing young players develop is certainly better than watching the team struggle.
What I didn't like
  • Sam Howell did himself no favors. The interception was particularly bad because it came after Milton had played so well. If this was supposed to be a legitimate QB2 competition, Milton is starting to create some separation. In fact, it could be over.
  • The offense didn't finish the first drive. Dallas moved the ball well but couldn't punch it in on fourth down. In the Red Zone no less! Against better competition, you can't keep leaving points on the field.
  • The defense wasn't perfect. Arizona had some success moving the ball, and the Cardinals actually had two touchdowns wiped out by penalties on one drive. So the 13 points don't tell the entire story.
  • It's still preseason. This is the biggest caveat. A lot of these guys were playing against backups, and you don't want to suddenly declare Dallas a Super Bowl contender because they beat Arizona 34–13.
  • Arizona was able to sustain a 14-play drive. The Cardinals went 59 yards over 7:37 in the second quarter. Even though they settled for a field goal, that's a pretty long stretch for a defense to be on the field.
  • The offensive line is still something I'd watch. The Cowboys need to make sure the backup line can protect whoever is playing QB. That's especially important if Milton ends up being the guy behind Dak. There were a few pretty sketchy plays that starting DL would have made big plays on him.
⭐ My overall grade

Offense: B+
Defense: B+
Young players: A-
QB2 battle: A for Milton, D for Howell

The biggest takeaway for me is not the 34–13 score. It's that (for the second week in a row) Dallas is starting to find some legitimate young players who could matter once the regular season starts. Also, the Cowb oys weren't just winning because of one player. They scored in every quarter and had multiple contributors on offense.

The Cowboys looked deeper and more balanced than they did last year, but I still want to see how these young players perform against actual starters before getting too excited. And honestly, Joe Milton is becoming perhaps the most interesting storyline on this roster. If he keeps playing like this, I think the Cowboys should feel very good about having him behind Dak.
Click to expand...

That's a great breakdown. Also, I thought Pete looked good again. I think we have something there.
 
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