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GLENDALE, Ariz. – Knowing they would soon be sleeping in their own beds after a month away at training camp, the Dallas Cowboys entered University of Phoenix Stadium with a little extra hop in their steps.
One sloppy performance later, they trudged back into the visitor’s locker room to search for silver linings after committing six turnovers in a 12-7 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.
Not surprisingly, Jason Garrett found one.
“Thank God it happened in a preseason game,” the always-upbeat coach said.
But that and other positives Garrett pinpointed, including a defense that limited the Cardinals to just four field goals, couldn’t conceal the careless play.
“You have to take care of the football,” said Garrett, whose team is 1-2 with two preseason games left. “Those plays kill you. You can’t win that way. It’s inexcusable. We have to get it corrected.”
The turnovers started with Dwayne Harris fumbling on a punt return after Dallas forced Arizona (2-0) into a three and out on the opening possession.
Lance Dunbar and Dez Bryant also fumbled, with both coming in Cardinals territory after long gains via pass receptions. The other turnovers came on interceptions, two by backup Kyle Orton and another by Alex Tanney from midfield with 1:40 left in the game.
But it was Dunbar and Bryant’s mistakes that hurt most, coming at the end of gains of 43 and 27 yards, respectively. Dunbar was inside the 5 when he coughed it up.
“I was trying to keep my balance instead of tucking the ball away,” he said. “You can’t let that happen.”
Bryant’s fumble overshadowed an otherwise impressive four-catch, 74-yard performance against Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson.
“Big, huge mistakes on my part, trying to do too much, trying to switch hands and stiff arm – I can’t do it,” Bryant said.
Said Garrett, “Regardless of how many more yards you might make, you got to take care of the rock.”
Tony Romo, who played into the second quarter along with the other starters, was 7 of 10 for 142 yards with a 112.5 passer rating. But he also overthrew Terrance Williams on a deep ball when the rookie from Baylor was open along the sideline.
“It was an adjustment route, so he has to see it a little differently,” Romo said of Williams, who missed the first two games with a concussion. “But the thing, obviously, is if he runs that route, I have to adjust to that.”
Romo has yet to direct a touchdown drive in the preseason.
“We’ll be in the end zone soon enough,” he said.
Jay Feely field goals 25, 53, 40 and 22 yards accounted for the Cardinals’ points. Dallas scored on a 5-yard pass from Tanney to rookie Gavin Escobar that cut Arizona’s lead to 9-7 with 10:55 left in the game.
“To have six turnovers and give up 12 points is pretty darn good,” Garrett said. “They did move the ball on us, I recognize that. But our defense did a real good job making some critical stops.”
Rookie linebacker DeVonte Holloman made the defensive play of the game with a diving interception at the Dallas 2-yard line on a Drew Stanton. After notching just 16 takeaways last season, Dallas has five in the preseason, including two picks by Holloman.
“That was a great play,” Jerry Jones said. “It just seems like he comes up at the right time. It looks like he expects to make a play.”
Jones was less impressed with Tanney even though he completed 11 straight en route to a 14-of-19 outing for 136 yards.
“I would like to think we are better and will play better than to make Tanney’s performance something to get giddy about,” Jones said. “But since we did play like that, let’s call it a Heisman Trophy day for him.”
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One sloppy performance later, they trudged back into the visitor’s locker room to search for silver linings after committing six turnovers in a 12-7 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.
Not surprisingly, Jason Garrett found one.
“Thank God it happened in a preseason game,” the always-upbeat coach said.
But that and other positives Garrett pinpointed, including a defense that limited the Cardinals to just four field goals, couldn’t conceal the careless play.
“You have to take care of the football,” said Garrett, whose team is 1-2 with two preseason games left. “Those plays kill you. You can’t win that way. It’s inexcusable. We have to get it corrected.”
The turnovers started with Dwayne Harris fumbling on a punt return after Dallas forced Arizona (2-0) into a three and out on the opening possession.
Lance Dunbar and Dez Bryant also fumbled, with both coming in Cardinals territory after long gains via pass receptions. The other turnovers came on interceptions, two by backup Kyle Orton and another by Alex Tanney from midfield with 1:40 left in the game.
But it was Dunbar and Bryant’s mistakes that hurt most, coming at the end of gains of 43 and 27 yards, respectively. Dunbar was inside the 5 when he coughed it up.
“I was trying to keep my balance instead of tucking the ball away,” he said. “You can’t let that happen.”
Bryant’s fumble overshadowed an otherwise impressive four-catch, 74-yard performance against Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson.
“Big, huge mistakes on my part, trying to do too much, trying to switch hands and stiff arm – I can’t do it,” Bryant said.
Said Garrett, “Regardless of how many more yards you might make, you got to take care of the rock.”
Tony Romo, who played into the second quarter along with the other starters, was 7 of 10 for 142 yards with a 112.5 passer rating. But he also overthrew Terrance Williams on a deep ball when the rookie from Baylor was open along the sideline.
“It was an adjustment route, so he has to see it a little differently,” Romo said of Williams, who missed the first two games with a concussion. “But the thing, obviously, is if he runs that route, I have to adjust to that.”
Romo has yet to direct a touchdown drive in the preseason.
“We’ll be in the end zone soon enough,” he said.
Jay Feely field goals 25, 53, 40 and 22 yards accounted for the Cardinals’ points. Dallas scored on a 5-yard pass from Tanney to rookie Gavin Escobar that cut Arizona’s lead to 9-7 with 10:55 left in the game.
“To have six turnovers and give up 12 points is pretty darn good,” Garrett said. “They did move the ball on us, I recognize that. But our defense did a real good job making some critical stops.”
Rookie linebacker DeVonte Holloman made the defensive play of the game with a diving interception at the Dallas 2-yard line on a Drew Stanton. After notching just 16 takeaways last season, Dallas has five in the preseason, including two picks by Holloman.
“That was a great play,” Jerry Jones said. “It just seems like he comes up at the right time. It looks like he expects to make a play.”
Jones was less impressed with Tanney even though he completed 11 straight en route to a 14-of-19 outing for 136 yards.
“I would like to think we are better and will play better than to make Tanney’s performance something to get giddy about,” Jones said. “But since we did play like that, let’s call it a Heisman Trophy day for him.”
Continue reading...