Some game analysis

[mmillman]

Mosely-

If this was truly a dress rehearsal for the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday evening, Commanders fans have to be licking their chops for Sept. 12. The Cowboys' first-team offense was once again whipped by an AFC defense. And the defense wasn't much better. The Colts don't get worried about pitiful preseason performances because of their winning pedigree. I'm afraid Cowboys fans won't take the same laidback approach. Now let's assess the damage:

• About the best thing you can say about the first half is that fourth-round pick Akwasi Owusu-Ansah opened the game with a 41-yard return. He showed a nice burst and Joe DeCamillis's unit did a good job creating a lane along the right side of the field.
• It looked like the Cowboys' offensive line hadn't seen a stunt all preseason. On the first sack of Tony Romo, Texans defensive end Mario Williams came racing up the middle and Andre Gurode appeared to be shocked by his arrival.
• Both Bradie James and Mike Jenkins did a nice job diagnosing plays early in the game, but Jenkins has to do a better job wrapping up. That's what Darren Woodson was really worried about with this group. Would they be able to tackle? Jenkins looked bad early in the game. Then Alan Ball started missing tackles.
• The Cowboys are praying Dez Bryant will someday be like Andre Johnson. Matt Schaub has the luxury of being able to deliver the ball even when Johnson is closely covered. Johnson caught one ball on the first drive with Terence Newman all over him and then dragged him another 5 yards.
• Jason Witten had no chance against defensive end Antonio Smith. Witten was overwhelmed by Smith when the Cowboys tried to run the ball to the left side. The Cowboys' running game has been bad throughout the preseason. I did like the draw play to Felix Jones on the second drive of the game. Right tackle Alex Barron did a really nice job sealing his man on that play. On the next play, Miles Austin had a bad drop in the left flat.
• Gurode may have jump-started Amobi Okoye's dormant career in the first quarter. The Texans' former first-round pick raced around Gurode to sack Tony Romo. It looked like Gurode was in decent position and then he just watched Okoye run past him. Romo doesn't have any time to survey the field.
• Missed the memo on former Tennessee Volunteer Arian Foster being such a wonderful running back. In the first quarter, DeMarcus Ware got pancaked by a tight end when Foster took off on an 18-yard run. Cowboys free safety Alan Ball whiffed on Foster in the open field. On the same drive, the Cowboys were completely fooled in coverage when Matt Schaub rolled right and then threw back across the field to Jacoby Jones. It looked like Ball was the player who was fooled on the touchdown.
• Hey, at least Roy Williams came to play Saturday night. He made a nice catch off his shoetops late in the first quarter and then he overpowered Kareem Jackson on a 29-yard catch. Later in the drive, Williams drew a holding penalty on cornerback Glover Quin. The Cowboys then botched a toss to Felix Jones, who raced back and failed to recover the fumble. CBS' Gus Johnson was in midseason form on that call.
• The Cowboys have to do a better job of knowing down and distance on defense. Cornerback Orlando Scandrick was giving Jacoby Jones way too much cushion on a third-and-6 play. There was no mystery where Jones was going with that route. On the next route, the Cowboys did the same thing on third-and-7. You think it might be a good idea to cover Andre Johnson on a crossing route? Johnson was the best player on the field Saturday.
• Did anyone else see defensive end Igor Olshansky getting blown off the ball in the first half? That's supposed to be the strength of Olshansky's game, but he was on his heels every time I watched.
• Scandrick simply has no chance against Andre Johnson. The Texans receiver is too physical for Scandrick. Former Texans offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has promised Santana Moss that he'll be able to do a lot of the same things as Johnson in the Skins' offense.
• It's impressive to watch Tashard Choice on one of those slip screens. And it's remarkable to see Leonard Davis racing downfield in front of Choice. Doug Free told me recently that Davis might be the fastest player on the offensive line.
• Wade Phillips finally lost his temper after a Foster run early in the second half. Looked like he was especially upset with Jason Williams and safety Michael Hamlin on the play. Both players took poor angles to Foster and ended up chasing him from behind.
• With 11:47 left in the third quarter, Phil Simms says the Cowboys don't appear to be motivated for this game. You think? What a weak little attempt at a tackle by safety Pat Watkins on Jeremiah Johnson's long run.
• On Foster's touchdown run early in the second half, Cowboys linebacker Victor Butler was driven into the end zone and never came close to making a play. Dallas had no interest in playing this game. How much should that concern Cowboys fans?
• The Texans were double-teaming Jay Ratliff and Bradie James was overpursuing against the run. Foster just burned them all night. Simms makes a statement with 5 minutes left in the third quarter that the Cowboys are playing a lot of reserves. I looked up and saw DeMarcus Ware, Ratliff, Anthony Spencer and James all in the game. Second consecutive disgraceful performance for the Cowboys. We'll see if they can flip the switch against the Commanders.

 

[mmurray21]

I actually don't have a problem with a lot of what happened last night. The Texans always treat this like a playoff game and clearly the Cowboys were not ready to match their intensity.

My problem is the Cowboys could barely get out of a huddle last night. They look like they just started practicing on Friday and have played progressively worse with each pre-season game.

Hopefully they are just tired from a long camp, but they were simply not ready to play last night.

 

[30yrheel]

obviously mosely is just panicing like everyone else here.

 

[Bull Frog]

Simms makes a statement with 5 minutes left in the third quarter that the Cowboys are playing a lot of reserves. I looked up and saw DeMarcus Ware, Ratlif

I was at the game. If you watch the replay you will notice that the starters played about 4 plays in the 3rd quarter. My buddy and I were watching as the Cowboys made wholesale changes for different situations.

They played the 2nd play of the 3rd quarter then left the field after a pass to Johnson where Scandrick wasn't within 10 yards of him. The first play they returned to the field was the sack/fumble by Ware that was negated. I think we counted two or three more plays where the starters were in after that play.

I also remember the 2nd team being on the field in the 2nd quarter when we held them to a field goal. Leon Williams, Brandon Williams and Butler were all out there with the 2nd team line. I think the CB's and Safety's were the only starters in the game.

Take if for what is worth, but it wasn't the typical game plan. These things don't always show up on TV. What may have shown up on TV that was obvious at the game was the Cowboys lack of enthusiasm.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Did anyone else see defensive end Igor Olshansky getting blown off the ball in the first half?

It happened in the Chargers game too. No Cowboy has ever gotten such a free pass for doing so little in recent memory. No matter how hard he sucks we just tell ourselves "Well, at least we didn't overpay to keep Canty", and give Igor his free pass. He's a "Wade's guy". If a new head coach is here next offseason Igor probably gets released immediately.

•It looked like the Cowboys' offensive line hadn't seen a stunt all preseason.

Old man Houck's unit failing to recognize a simple stunt? Say it aint so !!! We've only seen this ..... ohh, well every single game.

 

[Doomsday]

My 2 biggest concearns are

Romo has not look particulary sharp or accurate the last 2 games.
The Oline still has no answer for teams that do a lot of stunting. Guys are constantly running free at Romo which may have something to do with him not looking so sharp. I dont think he has much faith in this line, its hard to see how he can when every game is looking like he Minn game. Hope it is just preseason, but it seems like it is more than that.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

It happened in the Chargers game too. No Cowboy has ever gotten such a free pass for doing so little in recent memory. No matter how hard he sucks we just tell ourselves "Well, at least we didn't overpay to keep Canty", and give Igor his free pass. He's a "Wade's guy". If a new head coach is here next offseason Igor probably gets released immediately.

You seriously think he sucked against the run last year? Seriously?

 

[InmanRoshi]

You seriously think he sucked against the run last year? Seriously?

He was adequate against the run (brought absolutely zilch against the pass), but he plays the weakside where he hardly ever sees a TE doubleteam. It's much more difficult to play the run on Spears side. On top of that, he plays next to Ware making it even less likely he has to see anything other than single blocking. He adequately performed the bare minimum required for someone of his position. In the preseason he looks horrible ... not sure if it's his back or what, but he's not even bothering to do anything other than jog in persuit.

 

[theogt]

I was at the game. If you watch the replay you will notice that the starters played about 4 plays in the 3rd quarter. My buddy and I were watching as the Cowboys made wholesale changes for different situations.

They played the 2nd play of the 3rd quarter then left the field after a pass to Johnson where Scandrick wasn't within 10 yards of him. The first play they returned to the field was the sack/fumble by Ware that was negated. I think we counted two or three more plays where the starters were in after that play.

I also remember the 2nd team being on the field in the 2nd quarter when we held them to a field goal. Leon Williams, Brandon Williams and Butler were all out there with the 2nd team line. I think the CB's and Safety's were the only starters in the game.

Take if for what is worth, but it wasn't the typical game plan. These things don't always show up on TV. What may have shown up on TV that was obvious at the game was the Cowboys lack of enthusiasm.

Yeah, that was weird. I remember remarking to the person next to me that the Cowboys had none of their starters in. Then a couple plays later I start looking at numbers and it's the entire starting defense. I was a bit baffled by what was going on -- glad it wasn't just me going crazy.

 

[speedkilz88]

He was adequate against the run (brought absolutely zilch against the pass), but he plays the weakside where he hardly ever sees a TE doubleteam. It's much more difficult to play the run on Spears side. On top of that, he plays next to Ware making it even less likely he has to see anything other than single blocking. He adequately performed the bare minimum required for someone of his position. In the preseason he looks horrible ... not sure if it's his back or what, but he's not even bothering to do anything other than jog in persuit.

You're nuts. Olshansky was very good last year.

 

[21Savage]

Yeah, that was weird. I remember remarking to the person next to me that the Cowboys had none of their starters in. Then a couple plays later I start looking at numbers and it's the entire starting defense. I was a bit baffled by what was going on -- glad it wasn't just me going crazy.

Why were you baffled by that? It's something we've done throughout Wade's stay here in the preseason. In the 2nd quarter of the 2nd preseason game and the 3rd quarter of the 3rd game, even after we substitute the reserves in playing our base defense, we still put the starters in for the nickel D. That's the same thing that happened.