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Game Notebook
Buehler Hits 3-of-4; Bowen Shines
Chris Beesley
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
CANTON, Ohio - Although he wasn't perfect in Sunday's 16-7 win over the Bengals, kicker David Buehler was able to match a record.
He tied seven other players for most field goals in the Hall of Fame Game (three). He had a chance to set a new record with four, along with the record for most points ever in the Hall of Fame Game if he made the 49-yard field goal he missed at the beginning of the third quarter.
"I was just a little too quick getting there, and I'm a little upset with myself," Buehler said. "I have to make those. I have to make any one that they put me out to kick. I expect to make them all."
He served as the team's kickoff specialist last season, and has only field goal attempt as a professional that came during last year's preseason. The coaches have expressed confidence in him all offseason, and he is currently the only kicker on the roster following an impressive training camp stint in San Antonio.
"I feel like I hit them pretty well," Buehler said. "It was just different for me. I had to get adjusted to come into a game. I had a good training camp; it's just bringing the practice field out here and not seeing all the fans. Just seeing the field and the uprights."
Filling In
The injuries to tight ends John Phillips and Kevin Brock created a hole in the team's field goal unit. They are the first two players on the depth chart at the wing position, and the team had to burn a timeout to bring defensive end Stephen Bowen in to block for the field goal.
"I just had to step up and do my part to help the team," said Bowen, who is also helping fill in for injured starter Marcus Spears (sprained MCL).
He played a lot of snaps in the game, and he said he played better as the game went on. He recorded a sack, forced a pass interference penalty and three quarterback hits.
He was third on the team last season in quarterback pressures.
"I guess everybody says I specialize in that, but I was just doing my part to help the team," Bowen said.
Elite Company
The Cowboys have a receiver that compares to recently inducted Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. It's not Pro Bowler Miles Austin or even rookie Dez Bryant. In fact, unless you've been studying the 80-man roster, there's a good chance you haven't heard of him yet.
Undrafted rookie free agent Terrell Hudgins, who graduated from Elon, broke many of Rice's FCS (formerly known as Division II) records.
He broke Rice's record for most career receiving yards (5250), most games of 100-plus receiving yards (28), average yards per game (116.7), touchdowns per game (1.2), and career receptions (395).
He didn't meet Rice this weekend, but Rice did send Hudgins an autographed photo after many of his records were surpassed. Hudgins said he enjoyed watching Rice's speech on TV, and was a huge fan of Rice growing up.
"Knowing that he came from the same division as me, Division I-AA, gives me a lot of confidence coming out and playing for the Cowboys," Hudgins said. "I feel like he's a great player, a hard worker and you hear it from everyone. It's an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as him."
School Ties
A rare feat was accomplished during Sunday's game. Not only did the team's linebackers intercept twice as many passes (two) than the position did last year (one), the two players that picked off the throws are former defensive ends and college teammates.
Brandon Sharpe backed up Brandon Williams at defensive end when they played together at Texas Tech. Now, Sharpe is playing inside linebacker and Williams is playing outside linebacker for the Cowboys. Williams, who was brought to the team to pressure the quarterback, not defend passes, shared his reaction to his interception.
"I couldn't really believe that I caught it, to tell you the truth," Williams said.
Sharpe said he was able to make the play by remembering what coaches have told him to do, watching film and practicing. His athletic catch was the only touchdown for the team, and he also talked about getting an interception.
"I had one in junior college, but I didn't get to score on that one," Sharpe said. "I caught it and I wanted to run it in but I was like, 'somebody would've gotten me.' So I just dove in. It was an experience. It was a blessing."
Almost Nothing
After the Cowboys closed out the 2009 regular season with back-to-back shutout performances, it appeared for 58 minutes like the 2010 preseason might begin in similar fashion.
The defense, which hadn't allowed a Bengals possession to cross midfield until the third quarter, was angling for its first preseason blanking since Aug. 26, 1995, when they beat the Houston Oilers 10-0 in San Antonio. Cincinnati finally scored on a one-yard Jordan Palmer touchdown pass with 1:34 to play. The score was set up by a 63-yard punt return by rookie receiver Jordan Shipley.
While most of the work was done by the second- and third-line units, the starters did contribute one series and cheered on their teammates the rest of the way.
"It was looking like we were going to get it," linebacker Bradie James said. "Just one thing went wrong, and that's why it's a team game. Those guys really played well. With our twos you can definitely see an improvement from last year, and that's what it's supposed to look like."
-Josh Ellis
Buehler Hits 3-of-4; Bowen Shines
Chris Beesley
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
CANTON, Ohio - Although he wasn't perfect in Sunday's 16-7 win over the Bengals, kicker David Buehler was able to match a record.
He tied seven other players for most field goals in the Hall of Fame Game (three). He had a chance to set a new record with four, along with the record for most points ever in the Hall of Fame Game if he made the 49-yard field goal he missed at the beginning of the third quarter.
"I was just a little too quick getting there, and I'm a little upset with myself," Buehler said. "I have to make those. I have to make any one that they put me out to kick. I expect to make them all."
He served as the team's kickoff specialist last season, and has only field goal attempt as a professional that came during last year's preseason. The coaches have expressed confidence in him all offseason, and he is currently the only kicker on the roster following an impressive training camp stint in San Antonio.
"I feel like I hit them pretty well," Buehler said. "It was just different for me. I had to get adjusted to come into a game. I had a good training camp; it's just bringing the practice field out here and not seeing all the fans. Just seeing the field and the uprights."
Filling In
The injuries to tight ends John Phillips and Kevin Brock created a hole in the team's field goal unit. They are the first two players on the depth chart at the wing position, and the team had to burn a timeout to bring defensive end Stephen Bowen in to block for the field goal.
"I just had to step up and do my part to help the team," said Bowen, who is also helping fill in for injured starter Marcus Spears (sprained MCL).
He played a lot of snaps in the game, and he said he played better as the game went on. He recorded a sack, forced a pass interference penalty and three quarterback hits.
He was third on the team last season in quarterback pressures.
"I guess everybody says I specialize in that, but I was just doing my part to help the team," Bowen said.
Elite Company
The Cowboys have a receiver that compares to recently inducted Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. It's not Pro Bowler Miles Austin or even rookie Dez Bryant. In fact, unless you've been studying the 80-man roster, there's a good chance you haven't heard of him yet.
Undrafted rookie free agent Terrell Hudgins, who graduated from Elon, broke many of Rice's FCS (formerly known as Division II) records.
He broke Rice's record for most career receiving yards (5250), most games of 100-plus receiving yards (28), average yards per game (116.7), touchdowns per game (1.2), and career receptions (395).
He didn't meet Rice this weekend, but Rice did send Hudgins an autographed photo after many of his records were surpassed. Hudgins said he enjoyed watching Rice's speech on TV, and was a huge fan of Rice growing up.
"Knowing that he came from the same division as me, Division I-AA, gives me a lot of confidence coming out and playing for the Cowboys," Hudgins said. "I feel like he's a great player, a hard worker and you hear it from everyone. It's an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as him."
School Ties
A rare feat was accomplished during Sunday's game. Not only did the team's linebackers intercept twice as many passes (two) than the position did last year (one), the two players that picked off the throws are former defensive ends and college teammates.
Brandon Sharpe backed up Brandon Williams at defensive end when they played together at Texas Tech. Now, Sharpe is playing inside linebacker and Williams is playing outside linebacker for the Cowboys. Williams, who was brought to the team to pressure the quarterback, not defend passes, shared his reaction to his interception.
"I couldn't really believe that I caught it, to tell you the truth," Williams said.
Sharpe said he was able to make the play by remembering what coaches have told him to do, watching film and practicing. His athletic catch was the only touchdown for the team, and he also talked about getting an interception.
"I had one in junior college, but I didn't get to score on that one," Sharpe said. "I caught it and I wanted to run it in but I was like, 'somebody would've gotten me.' So I just dove in. It was an experience. It was a blessing."
Almost Nothing
After the Cowboys closed out the 2009 regular season with back-to-back shutout performances, it appeared for 58 minutes like the 2010 preseason might begin in similar fashion.
The defense, which hadn't allowed a Bengals possession to cross midfield until the third quarter, was angling for its first preseason blanking since Aug. 26, 1995, when they beat the Houston Oilers 10-0 in San Antonio. Cincinnati finally scored on a one-yard Jordan Palmer touchdown pass with 1:34 to play. The score was set up by a 63-yard punt return by rookie receiver Jordan Shipley.
While most of the work was done by the second- and third-line units, the starters did contribute one series and cheered on their teammates the rest of the way.
"It was looking like we were going to get it," linebacker Bradie James said. "Just one thing went wrong, and that's why it's a team game. Those guys really played well. With our twos you can definitely see an improvement from last year, and that's what it's supposed to look like."
-Josh Ellis