Two most positive surprises two most negative surprises

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

Positives: Lawrence and Chris Jones.

Lawrence: Yeah it's a contract season and yeah he's finally healthy. Even with those things, I think we can all agree he's gone above expectations. I've seen him show up in the run game and especially the pass game!

Chris Jones: Similar to Lawrence, we knew he was above average, but damn! He's been nothing short of amazing. Pinning teams constantly. We have the best kicking combo in the league.

Negatives: Maliek and Byron

I'm going to write the same summary for both. These guys were the camp MVPs on defense, and niether has done anything. Maliek I'm a little less worried about because he's played a year less and wasn't drafted as high. These guys play extremely important positions in this scheme and need to step it up NOW. Byrons only memorable play for me this season was knocking that WR out of bounds in the endzone. Malieks only one was scooping a fumble that someone else forced. Cmon guys!

 

[TheCount]

I will never forget that Bryan Broaddus was on a mission to get Chris Jones cut just last season.

 

[Sydla]

Surprises - Lawrence, Green.

Lawrence because he's playing better than I expected. Green, well............ he's played two games and not gotten hurt!

Negative Surprises - OL, Collins (DT)

Collins just isn't as active as he was last year. And the OL is a real disappointment. I know people want to point out that they have faced two great defensive fronts but the fact is we spent the resources along the OL to combat DLs like this. To have our OL, with three elite OL, get smacked around by defensive lines is disconcerting.

 

[CATCH17]

Demarcus Lawrence is a full on War Daddy right now.

I can't believe i'm saying that either because I've completely given up on the guy.



BTW, Taco was selected in the same area as him and look how long it's taken Lawrence to show these type of skills.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Lawrence and Lewis _ sure both made mistakes but Tank is off to a good start with a tie of sack leaders in the league with 4 and had 2 last night.
Sure lewis made some mistakes and gave up some plays, but he was thrust into a starting position due to injuries on the field and he has missed most of training camp due to his own
injuries and yet he still got an INT instead of letting it hit him in the hands and miss it like happens more often than not with or DBs in the past.

Negatives...

OLINE and Zeke

If you told me that the Denver, or another team, would hold the running game in check I would probably believe you thiking that in check meant around 70-80+ yards rushing but under a hundred.
However to hold zeke to 5 yards total rushing...if you would have predicted that I would have called you silly.
No way this Oline should only gain 5 yards total rushing and also have given Dak less pressure than it did.

Also...Zeke flat out screwed the pooch last night. He had little to openings but still did not turn nothing into something like he has in the past. He was terrible coming out of the backfield to catch passes and his standing with his hands on his hips after the int was bull butter.

Zeke may be full of himself, Zeke may be a character, Zeke may need to cool his off the field life style...but he was always a hard player when he was on the field and he helped getting the offense hyped like the playmaker used to do. That did not happen last night.

 

[John813]

BTW, Taco was selected in the same area as him and look how long it's taken Lawrence to show these type of skills.

Well, injuries have derailed his career. Missed the first 8 or so games his rookie year. Wasn't really a factor till the Lions playoff game IIRC.
Next year shows promise recording 8 sacks in 16 games but IIRC his back was tweaked at one point.
Then 2016 he gets suspended for some drug/enhancement and then his back issues flare up again.


Positives:

Chris Jones, D-Law

Negatives:

The rest.

 

[CATCH17]

Well, injuries have derailed his career. Missed the first 8 or so games his rookie year. Wasn't really a factor till the Lions playoff game IIRC.
Next year shows promise recording 8 sacks in 16 games but IIRC his back was tweaked at one point.
Then 2016 he gets suspended for some drug/enhancement and then his back issues flare up again.


Positives:

Chris Jones, Witten, Bailey

Negatives:

The rest.

I wouldn't be surprised if he was back on the drug/enhancement...

Scary in a contract year that he looks like a young JPP all of a sudden.

 

[John813]

I wouldn't be surprised if he was back on the drug/enhancement...

Scary in a contract year that he looks like a young JPP all of a sudden.

I would hope not, but knowing our luck tomorrow he'll be suspended lol.

Think he has always had it in him, just that maybe he is finally healthy. Definitely brings up a frustrating scenario if he keeps it up. Franchise, second contract or walk?

 

[bsbellomy]

Positives: Lawrence and Chris Jones.

Lawrence: Yeah it's a contract season and yeah he's finally healthy. Even with those things, I think we can all agree he's gone above expectations. I've seen him show up in the run game and especially the pass game!

Chris Jones: Similar to Lawrence, we knew he was above average, but damn! He's been nothing short of amazing. Pinning teams constantly. We have the best kicking combo in the league.

Negatives: Maliek and Byron

I'm going to write the same summary for both. These guys were the camp MVPs on defense, and niether has done anything. Maliek I'm a little less worried about because he's played a year less and wasn't drafted as high. These guys play extremely important positions in this scheme and need to step it up NOW. Byrons only memorable play for me this season was knocking that WR out of bounds in the endzone. Malieks only one was scooping a fumble that someone else forced. Cmon guys!

The only people surprised by Byron Jones haven't been paying attention these last 2 years.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

The only people surprised by Byron Jones haven't been paying attention these last 2 years.

I admit I'm surprised but I'm basing it off the fact he was balling in camp and looked to of taken the next step

 

[Cowfan75]

D-Law, Chris Jones: Good

The offense and Jason Garrett getting outcoached by a mile by a first year HC: Bad

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Positives - It was so comically bad that it was entertaining. Reminded me of the Campo years.

Negatives - It was so comically bad that it reminded me of the Campo years.

 

[tyke1doe]

Positives - It was so comically bad that it was entertaining. Reminded me of the Campo years.

Negatives - It was so comically bad that it reminded me of the Campo years.

The good ole Campo years. You had to laugh from crying.

 

[RS12]

Two positives; Punter and kicker

Negatives: Run defense and Denver converting most of their third down attempts.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Positives: Lawrence and Chris Jones.

Lawrence: Yeah it's a contract season and yeah he's finally healthy. Even with those things, I think we can all agree he's gone above expectations. I've seen him show up in the run game and especially the pass game!

Chris Jones: Similar to Lawrence, we knew he was above average, but damn! He's been nothing short of amazing. Pinning teams constantly. We have the best kicking combo in the league.

Negatives: Maliek and Byron

I'm going to write the same summary for both. These guys were the camp MVPs on defense, and niether has done anything. Maliek I'm a little less worried about because he's played a year less and wasn't drafted as high. These guys play extremely important positions in this scheme and need to step it up NOW. Byrons only memorable play for me this season was knocking that WR out of bounds in the endzone. Malieks only one was scooping a fumble that someone else forced. Cmon guys!

this was a total failure on all aspects, OL, DL (except for Lawrence), LBs, DBs, Dak, Zeke and WR, except for Witten. the game plan was awful, the in game adjustments were awful, I haven't ever seen so many tackles missed, it was as if we were playing flag football, nobody wrapped up, and everybody turned their back and bumped the ball carrier..... we never adjusted defensively to their WRs running crossing patterns underneath, then we panicked and they went over the top, then we panicked and they ran the ball, and offensively Dak was off, sorry but I agree with Dak, he has to take more risks...yes turning the ball over is bad, but not challenging a defense is also bad.....we can't dink and dunk our way up the field when running game is not working.....

just plain awful game all around....

 

[LocimusPrime]

The only people surprised by Byron Jones haven't been paying attention these last 2 years.

I've been preaching this for two years. He looks thin, is afraid of contact, and simply isn't a game changer. He is serviceable but that's it

 

[mardwin]

I will never forget that Bryan Broaddus was on a mission to get Chris Jones cut just last season.

Broaddus is horrible as a scout. He thought Claiborne was the second coming of Deion and Bradie James (memba' him) was an all-pro the LB. He was also all in on Bobby Carpenter.

 

[FaSho]

Surprising Positives:
Lawrence - I expected a good year, but not 4 sacks in 2 games. Looking good so far.
Lael Collins - I thought he would struggle against JPP and Von, but he didn't. Miller got garbage-time sacks where he knew a pass play was coming. I've seen Benson Mayowa do that.

Surprising Negatives:
Maliek Collins - I thought he was going to dominate, truly. Hearing how he gave fits to Martin on a consistent basis got me very excited. Been a dud so far.
The whole offensive line - These guys are supposed to be the best in the league. They haven't looked bad in pass protection, but the run blocking against Denver was atrocious.

 

[mardwin]

I've been preaching this for two years. He looks thin, is afraid of contact, and simply isn't a game changer. He is serviceable but that's it

Byron only good role is to cover TE that are not very athletic, you match him against a Jordan Reed or Jimmy Graham he will get exposed. He's the most soft FS in the league, can't tackle to save his life.

 

[mattjames2010]

Byron only good role is to cover TE that are not very athletic, you match him against a Jordan Reed or Jimmy Graham he will get exposed. He's the most soft FS in the league, can't tackle to save his life.

Which is why he needs to be moved to nickle corner.