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Updated: August 9, 2010, 4:50 AM
CANTON, OHIO - Preseason openers typically provide small sample sizes for the starters and incomplete grades for the fringe players fighting for roster spots, particularly in an additional (fifth) exhibition game like Sunday's Hall of Fame special.
To that end, Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips's goals were clear against the Cincinnati Bengals: play to win, evaluate, and get back to Dallas relatively healthy.
Injuries occurred, most notably to tight end John Phillips' right knee - officially termed a sprain but possibly deemed more serious after further tests Monday. Overall, though, the team accomplished its goals in a 16-7 victory at sold out Fawcett Field (22,364), the culmination of former running back Emmitt Smith's weekend enshrinement into the Class of 2010.
"I was pleased overall," Phillips said. "We would've liked to have done things better, but we got a lot of guys playing and I thought some guys showed up."
As expected, the starters played only one series each and 22 total plays (14 offense, 8 defense). Quarterback Tony Romo's unit drove 70 yards to the Bengals' 2, overcoming a holding penalty near midfield, though they settled for a field goal after three straight incompletions near the goal line.
Then Phillips' defense forced Cincinnati, led by quarterback Carson Palmer and ex-Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, to punt in eight plays.
That was it. The remaining 46:27 belonged to the backups - a critical audition for those hoping to fill out the eventual 53-man roster.
That's weeks away. The next priority is returning home for Thursday's preseason game against Oakland at Cowboys Stadium, then traveling to Oxnard, Calif. on Friday for the remainder of their split training camp.
Four exhibition games remain, but the starters don't figure to play more than two series until the third game, Aug. 21 at San Diego. Little game-planning was done for the Bengals; Phillips wanted his team to execute the fundamentals and build on their 14 practice days in San Antonio.
Some highlights:
* The Cowboys netted three field goals in three trips inside the 20-yard line, including the opening drive. The red zone has been a training camp focus; last year the Cowboys ranked 24th in efficiency inside the 20, scoring points on 40 of 50 trips. As an offense they ranked third in total yardage (399.4) but only 14th in scoring (22.6).
In the first quarter Sunday, Romo said the offense purposely saved some regular-season plays.
"But at the same point we need to get the ball in, and that's important," he said. "So we're going to work on that again this week."
Until then, the first-team offense found a good rhythm. Romo completed passes to wide receivers Miles Austin and Roy Williams, and Doug Free seemed unfazed in his first start at left tackle.
* More takeaways have been an offseason target for the defense, and it got four on Sunday: a fumble recovery from nose tackle Josh Brent and interceptions from safety Danny McCray and linebackers Brandon Williams and Brandon Sharpe. vAnd on that the opening series, the starting rotation simply got off the field.
"We kept it real bland, real basic, and we stopped them," linebacker Bradie James said.
Cincinnati couldn't move the ball the entire game. Aside from Jordan Shipley's deep punt return late in the fourth quarter, the Bengals' offense reached Cowboys territory only once.
* The Cowboys feel they have a good grasp on Jon Kitna's abilities as Romo's primary backup. He completed four of only seven attempts for 56 yards.
Second-year veteran Stephen McGee took over before halftime and played until the final series, finishing 12-of-22 for 116 yards. More than statistics, McGee showed some poise despite getting sacked four times and often forced out of the pocket. He will likely play extensively against Oakland, too.
"I thought he did a nice job," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "We wanted to get him in the game early and I thought he handled some different situations well. It wasn't always clean. I thought he moved his feet well, I thought he got the ball out of his hands, made some good, quick decisions."
* David Buehler's debut as the full-time kicker was mostly productive, converting three of four field goal attempts. He said the "training wheels came off" on his initial kick, a 20-yarder, and followed with makes from 23 and 34. He said his only miss, a 49-yard attempt hooked to the left, resulted from a hurried approach.
Kicking consultant Chris Boniol has been working with Buehler on his mental approach, focusing only on one attempt at a time - good or bad.
"The one-for-one philosophy is what works," Buehler said. "You've got to see each kick as an individual kick and I've got to learn from each kick."
* Recovered from an offseason knee scope, Mat McBriar looked to be in midseason form. Four of his eight punts landed inside the 20, though an apparent directional miscommunication on his last punt led to Shipley's return and eventually a Jordan Palmer touchdown pass that spoiled a shutout.
* Third-string running back Tashard Choice again made his case for a defined role in the offense behind Barber and Felix Jones. He rushed for 41 yards on seven carries (5.9 avg.), with a long of 21.
* The Cowboys' top three picks - first-round receiver Dez Bryant, second-round linebacker Sean Lee and fourth-round safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, traveled to Canton but did not play. Bryant continues to wear a protective walking boot for his high ankle sprain, suffered July 30. Lee (quadriceps strain) and Owusu-Ansah (shoulder rehab) have returned to practice but were held out as a precaution.
* Third-year tight end Martellus Bennett (sprained ankle) has been practicing but was also held out. Given the team's use of multiple tight end sets, he'll have to shoulder a larger load with Phillips injured. Prior to leaving Sunday's game, Phillips had a team-high four catches for 60 yards.
CANTON, OHIO - Preseason openers typically provide small sample sizes for the starters and incomplete grades for the fringe players fighting for roster spots, particularly in an additional (fifth) exhibition game like Sunday's Hall of Fame special.
To that end, Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips's goals were clear against the Cincinnati Bengals: play to win, evaluate, and get back to Dallas relatively healthy.
Injuries occurred, most notably to tight end John Phillips' right knee - officially termed a sprain but possibly deemed more serious after further tests Monday. Overall, though, the team accomplished its goals in a 16-7 victory at sold out Fawcett Field (22,364), the culmination of former running back Emmitt Smith's weekend enshrinement into the Class of 2010.
"I was pleased overall," Phillips said. "We would've liked to have done things better, but we got a lot of guys playing and I thought some guys showed up."
As expected, the starters played only one series each and 22 total plays (14 offense, 8 defense). Quarterback Tony Romo's unit drove 70 yards to the Bengals' 2, overcoming a holding penalty near midfield, though they settled for a field goal after three straight incompletions near the goal line.
Then Phillips' defense forced Cincinnati, led by quarterback Carson Palmer and ex-Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens, to punt in eight plays.
That was it. The remaining 46:27 belonged to the backups - a critical audition for those hoping to fill out the eventual 53-man roster.
That's weeks away. The next priority is returning home for Thursday's preseason game against Oakland at Cowboys Stadium, then traveling to Oxnard, Calif. on Friday for the remainder of their split training camp.
Four exhibition games remain, but the starters don't figure to play more than two series until the third game, Aug. 21 at San Diego. Little game-planning was done for the Bengals; Phillips wanted his team to execute the fundamentals and build on their 14 practice days in San Antonio.
Some highlights:
* The Cowboys netted three field goals in three trips inside the 20-yard line, including the opening drive. The red zone has been a training camp focus; last year the Cowboys ranked 24th in efficiency inside the 20, scoring points on 40 of 50 trips. As an offense they ranked third in total yardage (399.4) but only 14th in scoring (22.6).
In the first quarter Sunday, Romo said the offense purposely saved some regular-season plays.
"But at the same point we need to get the ball in, and that's important," he said. "So we're going to work on that again this week."
Until then, the first-team offense found a good rhythm. Romo completed passes to wide receivers Miles Austin and Roy Williams, and Doug Free seemed unfazed in his first start at left tackle.
* More takeaways have been an offseason target for the defense, and it got four on Sunday: a fumble recovery from nose tackle Josh Brent and interceptions from safety Danny McCray and linebackers Brandon Williams and Brandon Sharpe. vAnd on that the opening series, the starting rotation simply got off the field.
"We kept it real bland, real basic, and we stopped them," linebacker Bradie James said.
Cincinnati couldn't move the ball the entire game. Aside from Jordan Shipley's deep punt return late in the fourth quarter, the Bengals' offense reached Cowboys territory only once.
* The Cowboys feel they have a good grasp on Jon Kitna's abilities as Romo's primary backup. He completed four of only seven attempts for 56 yards.
Second-year veteran Stephen McGee took over before halftime and played until the final series, finishing 12-of-22 for 116 yards. More than statistics, McGee showed some poise despite getting sacked four times and often forced out of the pocket. He will likely play extensively against Oakland, too.
"I thought he did a nice job," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said. "We wanted to get him in the game early and I thought he handled some different situations well. It wasn't always clean. I thought he moved his feet well, I thought he got the ball out of his hands, made some good, quick decisions."
* David Buehler's debut as the full-time kicker was mostly productive, converting three of four field goal attempts. He said the "training wheels came off" on his initial kick, a 20-yarder, and followed with makes from 23 and 34. He said his only miss, a 49-yard attempt hooked to the left, resulted from a hurried approach.
Kicking consultant Chris Boniol has been working with Buehler on his mental approach, focusing only on one attempt at a time - good or bad.
"The one-for-one philosophy is what works," Buehler said. "You've got to see each kick as an individual kick and I've got to learn from each kick."
* Recovered from an offseason knee scope, Mat McBriar looked to be in midseason form. Four of his eight punts landed inside the 20, though an apparent directional miscommunication on his last punt led to Shipley's return and eventually a Jordan Palmer touchdown pass that spoiled a shutout.
* Third-string running back Tashard Choice again made his case for a defined role in the offense behind Barber and Felix Jones. He rushed for 41 yards on seven carries (5.9 avg.), with a long of 21.
* The Cowboys' top three picks - first-round receiver Dez Bryant, second-round linebacker Sean Lee and fourth-round safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, traveled to Canton but did not play. Bryant continues to wear a protective walking boot for his high ankle sprain, suffered July 30. Lee (quadriceps strain) and Owusu-Ansah (shoulder rehab) have returned to practice but were held out as a precaution.
* Third-year tight end Martellus Bennett (sprained ankle) has been practicing but was also held out. Given the team's use of multiple tight end sets, he'll have to shoulder a larger load with Phillips injured. Prior to leaving Sunday's game, Phillips had a team-high four catches for 60 yards.