The preseason is over for the Dallas Cowboys. They ended on a positive note, getting their first win by beating the Atlanta Falcons 31-13. There were many players who didn’t dress for this one as the team continues to evaluate players before roster cut-downs at 4pm on Tuesday. Here are ten thoughts on this preseason finale on Friday night.
1. Milton looked better
Alas, the team’s backup quarterback finally had a solid showing. After trading a late-round pick to the New England Patriots, the team is hoping that Joe Milton
can develop into a good backup for Dak Prescott. However, after the first two preseason games, things were looking a little dicey as Milton was struggling with his accuracy. Fortunately, things settled down for the young quarterback as he looked a lot more comfortable. His release was quicker, and he had a much softer touch, giving his receivers a fighting chance to make the catch. On the night, Milton finished 10/18 for 132 yards with a touchdown. He also added 33 yards rushing, including another touchdown.
2. Feeling a little Blue
It took a while, but we finally got to see the debut of the Cowboys’ fifth-round rookie running back, Jaydon Blue. There wasn’t a lot to see as he was met right away on most of his carries. His longest run was 13 yards, and he showed a nice burst through the hole, but he only averaged 1.5 yards per carry on his other eight runs. He did fight through a tackle at the goal line to score a touchdown. Blue’s debut ended abruptly when he left the game with a right ankle injury in the fourth quarter.
3. Houston, we have a depth problem
A month ago, the former Detroit Lions edge rusher was a free agent. But from the onset, James Houston has been splashing around on the edge. Against the Falcons, he was wrecking things. On his first rep in the game, he sacked the quarterback. Later in the same quarter, he read a jet sweep perfectly to tackle the ball carrier five yards behind the line of scrimmage. In the second quarter, he forced a holding penalty. Houston made plays all night, making things really difficult for the coaching staff as they round out their defensive end position group.
4. Perrion, my wayward son
Speaking of guys fighting to make the roster, defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey was constantly in the face of the quarterback on Friday. He was shedding blocks, wrapping up ball-carriers, and firing into the grill of Falcons’ quarterback Easton Stick all night. He was a constant disruptor. With so many questions along the interior of the defensive line, it’s hard to figure out how all of this will unfold, but the way Winfrey has performed this summer makes it really difficult to leave him off the roster.
5. If you throw it, they will catch it
It’s been a tough go for some of the Cowboys’ bottom roster wide receivers as an inaccurate Milton had not done well for guys fighting to make the team. Luckily, this game offered up several opportunities to make plays. Ryan Flournoy finished the game with four catches for 45 yards, and Jalen Brooks had two catches for 35 yards, including a nice touchdown haul. It’s going to be tough figuring out which one of these guys ends up with that last wide receiver spot.
6. A couple of close calls
It was weird, but not once, but twice, Cowboys players came really close to getting a safety when they caught the ball short of the end zone, but waltzed a few more steps and took a knee for a touchback. First, cornerback Troy Pride intercepted a pass, but his momentum took him into the endzone. The play didn’t count because the Cowboys had too many defenders on the field when the ball was snapped. Later in the game, Blue caught the kickoff close to the goal line and walked backwards before kneeling for the touchback. Neither of these plays hurt them, but they need to have better awareness near the end zone.
7. Good showing by backup tight ends
The Cowboys have a handful of young undrafted tight ends who may not make the 53-man roster, but they should add some nice depth on the practice squad. Rookie Rivaldo Fairweather had a nice 24-yard snag in the game, while Princeton Fant made a nice block that sprung Milton for a big gain down the sideline. It’s unclear how this will all go down, but new offensive coordinator Klayton Adams is great at utilizing extra tight ends and he has a few good players at his disposal.
8. Deuce got loose
It wouldn’t be a preseason game without Deuce Vaughn running around at least a little bit, and that time was Friday night. The young running back carried the ball 10 times for 42 yards, but 33 of them came on the team’s first drive. Vaughn is a bit of an enigma as it’s unclear how he fits with the Cowboys’ running back room. With roster spots scarce, he could be on the outside looking in, but performances like this one certainly help his cause.
9. Young linebackers flashed
We have already seen fifth-round rookie Shemar James make some good plays in the preseason. He kept that going, racking up five tackles, knocking down a pass, and stepping in front of another pass for an interception. He looks like a player who could be a star a few years down the road. But James wasn’t the only rookie linebacker making plays on Friday. Undrafted free agent Justin Barron was also all over the place. He finished with six tackles. James should make the roster with Barron a good candidate for the practice squad.
10. Aubrey is still awesome
You know your team has a great kicker when you don’t even get excited anymore about a 64-yard field goal, but that is how spoiled Brandon Aubrey has made us. What can we say that hasn’t already been said? He’s awesome. The team’s ultra-accurate kicker finished the game with another perfect evening, and concluded the preseason by making all 11 of his kicks, going 5/5 in field goals and 6/6 in extra points.
