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Cowboys close out preseason with loss to Vikings, 23-14

It’s over. Preseason is done and now we head on to the regular season. The Dallas Cowboys closed out the preseason at 2-2 with a 23-14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Not that the score mattered much as both teams were evaluating the talent at the bottom of the roster. I’ll have more on this once I review the tape.

Open thread for opinion on the game and the Cowboys cut-down day coming up.

Box score.

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Winners & Losers

This was a typical preseason game. In a real game, the Cowboys would blow out the Vikings. The backups played a lot, and there were 5 turnovers. The final score is meaningless. At least there were no serious injuries.
 
WINNERS:
DE Bowen earned a stop on the team.
DE Hatcher is back and looked good.
DT Ayodele played strong.
LB Saldi played well.
LB Phillips was active.
S Watkins stepped up.
S Brown got an INT.
S Elam had some nice hits.
CB Butler might have made the team.
WR Austin had a few catches called back on penalties, but he looked sharp.
WR Bilbo deserves more time on the practice squad.
WR Urban had the great return, but might lose out to a numbers game.
QB Moore looked good.
QB Bartel looked good. It's close. Practice squad.
TE Curtis is probably #3 TE.
TE Hannah finally caught some passes. Practice squad?
TE Bergen caught some passes, but it might not be enough.
FB Polite had some nice catches late, then smartly ran out of bounds.
 
LOSERS:
LB Glymph might not have shown enough.
LB Long also might not have shown enough.
CB Jones is probably gone.
CB Reeves gave up a big cushion, then missed a tackle. Ouch, although he had some moments.
CB Ball had a nice open field tackle, but I'm still looking for coverage skills.
CB Thomas is going downhill fast, after a good early camp.
OT McQuistan continues his rocky play; one miss caused a turnover.
C Proctor is probably to blame for fumbled snap with QB.
WR Stanback ran wrong route, resulting in INT. With the WR numbers, this was a wasted pick when CB was needed.
RB Beach will be there in a few days.

Texas slang in a Big Apple minute, by a friendly OED consultant. http://www.barrypopik.com

by barrypopik on Aug 30, 2007 10:36 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Stanback wasn't a wasted pick

he'll be starting for us after TNT retires and could be a star.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Aug 31, 2007 7:12 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Interesting game

I'll start with what I saw on the corners

A. Glenn is still the solid #3CB

Joey Thomas looked terrible, out of position all night, giving way too much cushion to 3rd stringers (c'mon dude) my confidence in him is shaken.

Nate Jones missed one tackle for a big play, later made a crushing hit on a WR causing a fumble (later ruled incomplete) still borderline average. He can play the slot, and he's good on ST, that might save him.

Reeves - up and down, made some nice pass break ups early but nothing after that. Infuriated Wade right before the half by allowing his man to make the catch and get out of bounds to stop the clock (Minn had no timeouts) this allowed them to kick a FG before the half ended. I can see him getting the boot.

Butler - good tackler, didn't get a chance to defend  any passes that I saw, but he's good against the run especially. He only got a couple chances to return punts, but looks like he's quick enough to do it.

Ball, one great tackle on ST, that was all I saw of him.

Safety

Courtney Brown had an INT on a poor pass, but he didn't make any bad plays.

Elam will make the team, no doubt in my mind. Made plays all over the field and on ST he was a standout.

by APerfectStar on Aug 30, 2007 10:51 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

WR's

Basically a battle between Austin and Urban for the last spot.

Austin was a star on offense, his switch must have come on. Ran good routes and with his speed and KO return ability I'd give him the edge.

Urban - Yes, he had the play of the game on the punt return, but I saw Carp block a guy in the back which took out 3 defenders. Might have been a penalty in the regular season. Still Urban made the most of it.
He also had a bad fumble which led to Minn score. He had a tough catch for a 3rd down conversion later in the game.

We might keep both, but if we only keep 6, I'd vote for Austin.

Stanback is lightning quick, but still needs work as a WR.

Nobody else did squat.

by APerfectStar on Aug 30, 2007 11:00 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I must say I am a huge Austin fan now
He just looked great, and he is a tough and fast runner after the catch.
Burt-D

by Burt D on Aug 30, 2007 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Although we rested

JJ and MB3 the line starting should have been able to open better holes. This is the 2nd consecutive game when we could not run and Coach Garrett's offense needs that dimension. The good news is that the Giants - especially without Strahan - should be easy to run on.

The regression in taking care of the football is troubling. The Vikings were playing scrubs and did not fumble. No reason for us to have 4 fumbles no matter who is playing.

by lee3022 on Aug 30, 2007 11:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

w/e everyone who fumbled
will be cut by saturday
Burt-D

by Burt D on Aug 30, 2007 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Moore will get cut from the active roster

as McMahon pointed out Stephen Jones was very noncommittal on whether they would keep Moore.  I'm sure they probably wouldn't care if the lost Moore all that much cuz they still have Bartel and supposedly they like Bartel as well.

Burt-D

by Burt D on Aug 30, 2007 11:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

D-line

Spears was playing into the 4th Q, and still didn't get a sack, but did bat down a pass. Read into that what you will.

Hatcher, he started manhandling his guy collapsing the pocket, pressuring the QB. I'll predict he surpasses Spears as the starter before midseason.

Bowen - he's a keeper. Was getting all kinds of pressure early on in the game, also got a sack, and totally stuffed a Minn RB for a loss.

Remi Ayodele stepped it up, but it was late in the game against the guys who won't be Vikings much longer. I still think he should be on the PS.

by APerfectStar on Aug 30, 2007 11:07 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

any comments on "cricket?"

I didn't get to see the game. Did Anderson do anything good or bad?

by llutherr on Aug 30, 2007 11:08 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

The game book says he played

but no carries and no catches and the running game is not good for his resume.

by lee3022 on Aug 30, 2007 11:25 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

blocking?

I was thinking as a blocker...

by llutherr on Aug 30, 2007 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Random notes

McBriar is a stud! Pro-Bowl bound.

Glymph did nothing, Ellis better get back on the field.

Blair Phillips - I don't know if he makes the roster or not, but he was getting the plays from B.Stewart after Carp finally got to sit down. Maybe PS candidate?

James Marten, whew...not looking good. I think Pettiti was better. If not for the fact that he's a 3rd rd pick he'd definitely be on the PS or just cut.

We probably only keep 2 QB's and then pick up whoever clears waivers and put them on the PS.

Curtis looks better and better. Definite 3rd TE.

FB - they all played well, tough call if we only keep 2.

by APerfectStar on Aug 30, 2007 11:18 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Austin v. Urban

My notes for the game show them very close as WR's. Yes, Urban had the TD Punt return (which he stupidly fielded at the 4: I know the TD makes up for that, but still...) But then Urban basically gave the six points back with his later fumble.

I kind of get the sense that maybe Urban runs more aggressive routes and might have better hands. "Maybe," being the key word, there. Both still young and raw, with obvious "up side" to exploit.

I think this battle may come down to stuff we can't see, like the coaches' perception of their individual work ethics/character.

by Incredifan on Aug 31, 2007 7:27 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Austin v Urban isn't even close

in terms of potential as Austin is so much more physically talented.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Aug 31, 2007 7:29 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is from the DMN blog

You gotta love this:

Romo, Owens and Crayton worked on the entire route tree, worked up a good sweat and improved their chemistry, I'm sure.

"There were some footballs around and we could use the opportunity either to sit and watch or get in some work," Romo said.

by dunkman on Aug 31, 2007 7:56 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

sounds like the Indy routine

with Manning, Harrison and Wayne

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Aug 31, 2007 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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