CFZ What Pre-season games CAN and CAN’T show us

[Bobhaze]

Tonight we finally get to see some football- kind of. The pre-season is here and for football starved fans it’s certainly better than a training camp practice video.

The problem with ps games is it very hard to gauge performances- especially when some players may be matched up frequently with a 3rd or 4th stringer from the other team that has no chance to be much more than maybe a practice squad player.

PS games can often make us think a particular player is better than they really. Cowboys Training camp history is littered with guys that were “having a great camp” that never played a meaningful down for us.

BUT….Here are some things that pre-season games can and cannot show us about young players:
What it CAN show:

• If a particular player has athleticism, quickness, power, and some general football IQ.
  
• Over the 3 ps games we play, if a particular player is showing improvement, it means they are adjusting to the NFL game and NFL coaching.
• Look for the guys who get the most playing time- they are usually the “bubble players” who are on the cusp of making the team but haven’t proved it yet.
• Young guys/rookies who may not play much in the regular season but may become good ST players.

What it CANNOT show:

• The team’s overall readiness. Most starters won’t play much and several may not play at all.
• There is no game planning…so…New wrinkles in the playbook or new formations, etc. that will be used in the season are usually never shown.
  
• It usually cannot show how ready a rookie is for the NFL regular season. If they have been matched up against backups and guys who won’t even be in the league by Sept, it can be fool’s gold sometime to think what you see in PS will translate in the regular season.

Watching preseason games can be fun, even if the quality of play is not that great. So I say enjoy the action. Just be aware that PS games are not always an accurate measure of how prepped many young players are for the regular season.

 

[Jake]

Preseason games CAN show you what you want to see (See? I told you!).

Preseason games CAN'T show you what you don't want to see (It's just preseason.).

Get your popcorn ready.

 

[Bobhaze]

Preseason games CAN show you what you want to see (See? I told you!).

Preseason games CAN'T show you what you don't want to see (It's just preseason.).

Get your popcorn ready.

For sure. We can almost guarantee there will be overreactions both ways after tonight’s game. “_____ is going to a beast” or “is a wasted pick”, etc.

What also should be remembered is neither team is game planning or using their best personnel packages or new plays or formations. The playbook will be as vanilla as they come.

 

[cowboyec]

for me pre-season games are about the rookies and non-starters using the games to make the 53 and jockey for positioning behind the 1s....and nothing else.

 

[CowboyFrog]

The trend has been that with the limited practice time these pre season games will be a mess just like the last several years...penalties missed assignments..you know the game that is replacing the actual practice time they needed. It can show you some individually things for sure and what kind of talent some of the young guys have.

 

[Bobhaze]

PS games are usually the first in a series of overreactions- good or bad.

 

[Hardline]

What pre-season games usually tell us is the opposing teams back ups and rookies look better than ours.

 

[Carson]

What pre-season games usually tell us is the opposing teams back ups and rookies look better than ours.

Came here to post this. I think it’s been since the campo years that we looked decent in preseason

 

[john van brocklin]

Tonight we finally get to see some football- kind of. The pre-season is here and for football starved fans it’s certainly better than a training camp practice video.

The problem with ps games is it very hard to gauge performances- especially when some players may be matched up frequently with a 3rd or 4th stringer from the other team that has no chance to be much more than maybe a practice squad player.

PS games can often make us think a particular player is better than they really. Cowboys Training camp history is littered with guys that were “having a great camp” that never played a meaningful down for us.

BUT….Here are some things that pre-season games can and cannot show us about young players:
What it CAN show:

• If a particular player has athleticism, quickness, power, and some general football IQ.
  
• Over the 3 ps games we play, if a particular player is showing improvement, it means they are adjusting to the NFL game and NFL coaching.
• Look for the guys who get the most playing time- they are usually the “bubble players” who are on the cusp of making the team but haven’t proved it yet.
• Young guys/rookies who may not play much in the regular season but may become good ST players.

What it CANNOT show:

• The team’s overall readiness. Most starters won’t play much and several may not play at all.
• There is no game planning…so…New wrinkles in the playbook or new formations, etc. that will be used in the season are usually never shown.
  
• It usually cannot show how ready a rookie is for the NFL regular season. If they have been matched up against backups and guys who won’t even be in the league by Sept, it can be fool’s gold sometime to think what you see in PS will translate in the regular season.

Watching preseason games can be fun, even if the quality of play is not that great. So I say enjoy the action. Just be aware that PS games are not always an accurate measure of how prepped many young players are for the regular season.

Watch how the Oline does , biggest question mark going into the season.

 

[Carson]

Watch how the Oline does , biggest question mark going into the season.

Somewhat. But likely no Tyron and Tyler will likely be with the 2s. Two massive changes come Tampa

 

[ShortRound]

I’m actually curious about the kicking game. Anywhoo it will be Super Bowl bound or the end of the season after tonight.

 

[Bobhaze]

I’m actually curious about the kicking game. Anywhoo it will be Super Bowl bound or the end of the season after tonight.

Me too. The Kicker situation is one where we might actually start getting some real feedback tonight.

 

[john van brocklin]

Somewhat. But likely no Tyron and Tyler will likely be with the 2s. Two massive changes come Tampa

sure enough!

 

[Rockport]

Tonight we finally get to see some football- kind of. The pre-season is here and for football starved fans it’s certainly better than a training camp practice video.

The problem with ps games is it very hard to gauge performances- especially when some players may be matched up frequently with a 3rd or 4th stringer from the other team that has no chance to be much more than maybe a practice squad player.

PS games can often make us think a particular player is better than they really. Cowboys Training camp history is littered with guys that were “having a great camp” that never played a meaningful down for us.

BUT….Here are some things that pre-season games can and cannot show us about young players:
What it CAN show:

• If a particular player has athleticism, quickness, power, and some general football IQ.
  
• Over the 3 ps games we play, if a particular player is showing improvement, it means they are adjusting to the NFL game and NFL coaching.
• Look for the guys who get the most playing time- they are usually the “bubble players” who are on the cusp of making the team but haven’t proved it yet.
• Young guys/rookies who may not play much in the regular season but may become good ST players.

What it CANNOT show:

• The team’s overall readiness. Most starters won’t play much and several may not play at all.
• There is no game planning…so…New wrinkles in the playbook or new formations, etc. that will be used in the season are usually never shown.
  
• It usually cannot show how ready a rookie is for the NFL regular season. If they have been matched up against backups and guys who won’t even be in the league by Sept, it can be fool’s gold sometime to think what you see in PS will translate in the regular season.

Watching preseason games can be fun, even if the quality of play is not that great. So I say enjoy the action. Just be aware that PS games are not always an accurate measure of how prepped many young players are for the regular season.

Kicking competition is going to be interesting.

 

[stilltheguru]

You can see alot if you know football. I knew Romo and Dak were legit from preseason.

 

[Carson]

Would be nice to see a new backup QB emerge with some potential like Sam Howell.

But we still trot out Grier and DiNucci after Rush.

We know DiNucci will stink it up and go 7-20 for 30 yards and a few picks lol

 

[stilltheguru]

Would be nice to see a new backup QB emerge with some potential like Sam Howell.

But we still trot out Grier and DiNucci after Rush.

We know DiNucci will stink it up and go 7-20 for 30 yards and a few picks lol

Yea it's embarrassing that they still have Dinucci on the team. I really dislike Mccarthy

 

[Parcells4Life]

Tonight we finally get to see some football- kind of. The pre-season is here and for football starved fans it’s certainly better than a training camp practice video.

The problem with ps games is it very hard to gauge performances- especially when some players may be matched up frequently with a 3rd or 4th stringer from the other team that has no chance to be much more than maybe a practice squad player.

PS games can often make us think a particular player is better than they really. Cowboys Training camp history is littered with guys that were “having a great camp” that never played a meaningful down for us.

BUT….Here are some things that pre-season games can and cannot show us about young players:
What it CAN show:

• If a particular player has athleticism, quickness, power, and some general football IQ.
  
• Over the 3 ps games we play, if a particular player is showing improvement, it means they are adjusting to the NFL game and NFL coaching.
• Look for the guys who get the most playing time- they are usually the “bubble players” who are on the cusp of making the team but haven’t proved it yet.
• Young guys/rookies who may not play much in the regular season but may become good ST players.

What it CANNOT show:

• The team’s overall readiness. Most starters won’t play much and several may not play at all.
• There is no game planning…so…New wrinkles in the playbook or new formations, etc. that will be used in the season are usually never shown.
  
• It usually cannot show how ready a rookie is for the NFL regular season. If they have been matched up against backups and guys who won’t even be in the league by Sept, it can be fool’s gold sometime to think what you see in PS will translate in the regular season.

Watching preseason games can be fun, even if the quality of play is not that great. So I say enjoy the action. Just be aware that PS games are not always an accurate measure of how prepped many young players are for the regular season.

It was preseason last year we learned Kearse was on the teams plans. Most “media projections” had him not making the team even until the 4th preseason game but he was playing a lot more than Donovan in the 3rd game when the first team was out there

 

[KJJ]

These days you find out mostly about your depth in preseason. Preseason is all about young players and backups. Starters are getting fewer reps in preseason than ever.

 

[Bobhaze]

Would be nice to see a new backup QB emerge with some potential like Sam Howell.

But we still trot out Grier and DiNucci after Rush.

We know DiNucci will stink it up and go 7-20 for 30 yards and a few picks lol

Will Grier has been getting some positive ink in TC. Think he got dinged a little the other day but he’s probably the main competitor with Cooper Rush for the backup role. Rush got some street cred with that performance vs the Vikes last fall.