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Cowboys' training camp issues: This one looked like a duress rehearsal
12:33 AM CDT on Sunday, August 29, 2010
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
tarcher@dallasnews.com
HOUSTON – The Cowboys' focus for Saturday's game against Houston was more on the team performance than individual evaluation.
If that was the case, then there was very little good to come from the 23-7 loss to the Texans, but Wade Phillips cited some individuals who played well anyway.
The Cowboys are still looking to shore up some backup roles and were able to find some good, believe it or not, and some not so good as they move closer to the Sept. 12 season opener at Washington.
With Thursday's preseason finale vs. Miami, they will have jobs to fill.
Alex Barron
He got his first start at right tackle with Marc Colombo recovering from knee surgery. Barron was not the problem for a line that allowed too much pressure on Tony Romo and too few holes for the running game.
He was matched up against Mario Williams a few times and did a nice job without much help on one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.
Barron is not a power player, but he did a nice job of keeping the defender at bay.
"It was all right," Barron said. "It was good to get back and mix it up a little bit."
Sean Lee/Jason Williams
With the Texans spreading out their offense, Williams got the bulk of the first-half work with the regulars in the dime defense.
Williams was decent against the run but an illegal contact penalty negated a turnover, and Houston scored on the next play.
Lee had a hard time disengaging from blockers and was not nearly as active in the first half as he was against San Diego.
"That was way too inconsistent," Lee said. "When you're going to play with the first team you can't make mistakes."
Danny McCray
A special teams fiend in the first three preseason games, the undrafted rookie safety from LSU was given more of a role in the sub-package defense and struggled with his responsibilities.
Used mostly in long-yardage situations, McCray stuck with the tight end too long on a route, creating an opening for Arian Foster to pick up 7 yards on third-and-6. In the third quarter, he got caught in the wash on a Foster run that went for 17 yards and set up a Houston field goal.
"It moves a lot faster in the game than it does in practice," McCray said.
Kevin Ogletree
After an up-and-down camp in San Antonio , Ogletree was better in Oxnard, Calif., but he was slowed by a hamstring strain during the week that limited his practice time. Ogletree had the Cowboys' only touchdown – a 24-yard strike from Jon Kitna – but fumbled a kick return that the Cowboys were able to recover.
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12:33 AM CDT on Sunday, August 29, 2010
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
tarcher@dallasnews.com
HOUSTON – The Cowboys' focus for Saturday's game against Houston was more on the team performance than individual evaluation.
If that was the case, then there was very little good to come from the 23-7 loss to the Texans, but Wade Phillips cited some individuals who played well anyway.
The Cowboys are still looking to shore up some backup roles and were able to find some good, believe it or not, and some not so good as they move closer to the Sept. 12 season opener at Washington.
With Thursday's preseason finale vs. Miami, they will have jobs to fill.
Alex Barron
He got his first start at right tackle with Marc Colombo recovering from knee surgery. Barron was not the problem for a line that allowed too much pressure on Tony Romo and too few holes for the running game.
He was matched up against Mario Williams a few times and did a nice job without much help on one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.
Barron is not a power player, but he did a nice job of keeping the defender at bay.
"It was all right," Barron said. "It was good to get back and mix it up a little bit."
Sean Lee/Jason Williams
With the Texans spreading out their offense, Williams got the bulk of the first-half work with the regulars in the dime defense.
Williams was decent against the run but an illegal contact penalty negated a turnover, and Houston scored on the next play.
Lee had a hard time disengaging from blockers and was not nearly as active in the first half as he was against San Diego.
"That was way too inconsistent," Lee said. "When you're going to play with the first team you can't make mistakes."
Danny McCray
A special teams fiend in the first three preseason games, the undrafted rookie safety from LSU was given more of a role in the sub-package defense and struggled with his responsibilities.
Used mostly in long-yardage situations, McCray stuck with the tight end too long on a route, creating an opening for Arian Foster to pick up 7 yards on third-and-6. In the third quarter, he got caught in the wash on a Foster run that went for 17 yards and set up a Houston field goal.
"It moves a lot faster in the game than it does in practice," McCray said.
Kevin Ogletree
After an up-and-down camp in San Antonio , Ogletree was better in Oxnard, Calif., but he was slowed by a hamstring strain during the week that limited his practice time. Ogletree had the Cowboys' only touchdown – a 24-yard strike from Jon Kitna – but fumbled a kick return that the Cowboys were able to recover.
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