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Didn't get to watch live so watched the replay on DVR.
Saw some good and some not so good. Am glad these games are essentially done (nobody other than the bottom half of the roster is gonna play Thursday I suspect, though we took a couple of hits last night so a few of the eventual 53 might have to play.
1) Last year Dak Prescott was really good, really good like in very arguably the best rookie season in the history of the league for a rookie QB. He appears significantly better this year and seems primed for huge things in his career here. Dude was throwing some serious b-b's last night, I don't think there's any questions he has some extra MPH on the fastball this year. Almost everything he has thrown in his two games has been right on the money. Those throws to Witten and RW downfield were awesome, and he just missed Dez on a deep one that seemed like he flung it 60 yards or so in the air on a rope. I keep saying it, but we got lucky beyond belief to have this guy.
2) Elliott's debut was nothing special, but he looks ready. Unfortunately due to the most biased, corrupt league action ever taken in terms punishment he's gonna miss 6 games unless we get a reprieve from the courts (assuming it goes there). McFadden ran the ball pretty well again as did Morris, so hopefully we can still be fairly balanced. But we'll miss those game breaking plays, his ability as a receiver and definitely his ability in blitz protection and that's a concern because with two new OL and an early schedule that features some blitz happy teams with good defensive players, Prescott may have to buckle up tight.
3) Jason Witten looks more fluid and agile than I've noticed the past few years. I don't know if he dropped weight or what, but he is moving around exceptionally well. James Hanna looked like he was moving around really well too and his blocking was pretty solid as well.
4) 3 sacks last night, all by DL, so that's nice. But we've now played 4 preseason games and had a lot of snaps vs bad QB's and shoddy OL's, and we still don't have an interception. The coaches cant be happy with this. They've had a couple of shots, but on most pass plays there haven't been many plays on the ball at all. Of particular concern has to be the fact that despite being good sized safeties with speed and range, neither Heath nor Byron Jones has played the pass particularly well at all, and Jones was late getting over on a deep TD to Cooper last night. Heath may have been the culprit on the other wide open TD throw. It doesn't seem to matter who they roll out there, they just cant find guys that play the ball in the air worth a shit.
5) Lael Collins had a good night blocking, but his 3 penalties were killers. 1 of them might have been pretty iffy (I think it was the hands to the face that wiped out the long gain to T Williams on perfect throw from Dak) but he's gotta get the technique part of the job down for sure. Chaz Green was decent at LG, but then got hurt (again) and never returned. Looks like Cooper may win the LG job by default.
6) Has to be serious concern about how to put this roster together now with all the injuries and suspensions. Hitchens injury though not season ending is bad news because I don't think Jaylon Smith is ready for fulltime duty, and it's likely than Damien Wilson is gonna get suspended for 4-6 games (if not more). Hitchens clearly isn't anything special, but he gives maximum effort and can play all 3 LB spots. The rookie DB's have all been made of glass and gotten almost no real reps, so it's unlikely IMO that any of them help much until after the bye or maybe even later in the season. Duke Thomas seemed primed to make the team, but he suffered a high ankle sprain and knee injury, so he is likely to begin year on IR (if not released with injury settlement). Nolan Carroll is a JAG, but he's likely getting whacked for 2-4 games too. Rico Gather seems destined for IR (maybe IR to return). Of course we're down two DL's minimum to start yr (Irvin and Moore) and Tyrone Crawford even if he plays will probably be nowhere near 100%
7) Because of the above, I bet there are 3 or 4 players not on the roster today who will be here come week one. Maybe 5 or 6. They could use several moves on defense at all 3 levels, and I wouldn't be surprised if they grab another OL. Backup QB is also still interesting. Moore should absolutely be released, but I'm not sure I'd trust Cooper Rush to be the REAL #2 guy this season. Ideally you'd keep him as the 3rd guy and get another vet (unless as I mentioned before, Tony Romo is the plan B if something significant happened to Prescott)
8) I think UDFA Lewis Neal has made the team now. Was very active again last night and had a sack plus another TFL. He doesn't look like a traditional 4-3 DL, but he does make plays. I think he has been far better than both guys they drafted in the 7th rd (Carrell and Ivie), and while I don't think much of Lance Lenoir's potential of making the active roster, he has come along pretty well from where he was in the first preseason game, both as a returner and receiver. 2nd straight game with a nice TD as a WR and he seems to be gaining confidence as a return guy. Would be interested in seeing him stick on our practice squad.
9) Seemed like there was a real effort to get Ronnie Hillman meaningful reps last night. He came in the game earlier than I expected and got quite a bit of playing time, catching 4 passes and a nice TD.
With all the suspensions and injuries, I really think 3-3 in those first 6 should be the goal. Obviously better than 3-3 would be huge, but do at least 3-3 and once Zeke returns we could win 7 or 8 of last 10, and still make some real noise in the postseason. While some of the defenses we face early could create some issues for us, the good news is other than Green Bay and maybe Arizona, none of those first 6 opponents has an offense which should put up a lot of points either. We could definitely be in all 6 games and with Prescott and the kicking game we have, that should be enough to get us 3 or (hopefully) more wins to start the year.
Saw some good and some not so good. Am glad these games are essentially done (nobody other than the bottom half of the roster is gonna play Thursday I suspect, though we took a couple of hits last night so a few of the eventual 53 might have to play.
1) Last year Dak Prescott was really good, really good like in very arguably the best rookie season in the history of the league for a rookie QB. He appears significantly better this year and seems primed for huge things in his career here. Dude was throwing some serious b-b's last night, I don't think there's any questions he has some extra MPH on the fastball this year. Almost everything he has thrown in his two games has been right on the money. Those throws to Witten and RW downfield were awesome, and he just missed Dez on a deep one that seemed like he flung it 60 yards or so in the air on a rope. I keep saying it, but we got lucky beyond belief to have this guy.
2) Elliott's debut was nothing special, but he looks ready. Unfortunately due to the most biased, corrupt league action ever taken in terms punishment he's gonna miss 6 games unless we get a reprieve from the courts (assuming it goes there). McFadden ran the ball pretty well again as did Morris, so hopefully we can still be fairly balanced. But we'll miss those game breaking plays, his ability as a receiver and definitely his ability in blitz protection and that's a concern because with two new OL and an early schedule that features some blitz happy teams with good defensive players, Prescott may have to buckle up tight.
3) Jason Witten looks more fluid and agile than I've noticed the past few years. I don't know if he dropped weight or what, but he is moving around exceptionally well. James Hanna looked like he was moving around really well too and his blocking was pretty solid as well.
4) 3 sacks last night, all by DL, so that's nice. But we've now played 4 preseason games and had a lot of snaps vs bad QB's and shoddy OL's, and we still don't have an interception. The coaches cant be happy with this. They've had a couple of shots, but on most pass plays there haven't been many plays on the ball at all. Of particular concern has to be the fact that despite being good sized safeties with speed and range, neither Heath nor Byron Jones has played the pass particularly well at all, and Jones was late getting over on a deep TD to Cooper last night. Heath may have been the culprit on the other wide open TD throw. It doesn't seem to matter who they roll out there, they just cant find guys that play the ball in the air worth a shit.
5) Lael Collins had a good night blocking, but his 3 penalties were killers. 1 of them might have been pretty iffy (I think it was the hands to the face that wiped out the long gain to T Williams on perfect throw from Dak) but he's gotta get the technique part of the job down for sure. Chaz Green was decent at LG, but then got hurt (again) and never returned. Looks like Cooper may win the LG job by default.
6) Has to be serious concern about how to put this roster together now with all the injuries and suspensions. Hitchens injury though not season ending is bad news because I don't think Jaylon Smith is ready for fulltime duty, and it's likely than Damien Wilson is gonna get suspended for 4-6 games (if not more). Hitchens clearly isn't anything special, but he gives maximum effort and can play all 3 LB spots. The rookie DB's have all been made of glass and gotten almost no real reps, so it's unlikely IMO that any of them help much until after the bye or maybe even later in the season. Duke Thomas seemed primed to make the team, but he suffered a high ankle sprain and knee injury, so he is likely to begin year on IR (if not released with injury settlement). Nolan Carroll is a JAG, but he's likely getting whacked for 2-4 games too. Rico Gather seems destined for IR (maybe IR to return). Of course we're down two DL's minimum to start yr (Irvin and Moore) and Tyrone Crawford even if he plays will probably be nowhere near 100%
7) Because of the above, I bet there are 3 or 4 players not on the roster today who will be here come week one. Maybe 5 or 6. They could use several moves on defense at all 3 levels, and I wouldn't be surprised if they grab another OL. Backup QB is also still interesting. Moore should absolutely be released, but I'm not sure I'd trust Cooper Rush to be the REAL #2 guy this season. Ideally you'd keep him as the 3rd guy and get another vet (unless as I mentioned before, Tony Romo is the plan B if something significant happened to Prescott)
8) I think UDFA Lewis Neal has made the team now. Was very active again last night and had a sack plus another TFL. He doesn't look like a traditional 4-3 DL, but he does make plays. I think he has been far better than both guys they drafted in the 7th rd (Carrell and Ivie), and while I don't think much of Lance Lenoir's potential of making the active roster, he has come along pretty well from where he was in the first preseason game, both as a returner and receiver. 2nd straight game with a nice TD as a WR and he seems to be gaining confidence as a return guy. Would be interested in seeing him stick on our practice squad.
9) Seemed like there was a real effort to get Ronnie Hillman meaningful reps last night. He came in the game earlier than I expected and got quite a bit of playing time, catching 4 passes and a nice TD.
With all the suspensions and injuries, I really think 3-3 in those first 6 should be the goal. Obviously better than 3-3 would be huge, but do at least 3-3 and once Zeke returns we could win 7 or 8 of last 10, and still make some real noise in the postseason. While some of the defenses we face early could create some issues for us, the good news is other than Green Bay and maybe Arizona, none of those first 6 opponents has an offense which should put up a lot of points either. We could definitely be in all 6 games and with Prescott and the kicking game we have, that should be enough to get us 3 or (hopefully) more wins to start the year.
