Dallas Cowboys News & Notes: Are Cowboys Ready?

Jason Garrett: Dallas Cowboys are ready - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
Despite the 0-3 record, Garrett pronounced the Cowboys ready, but in part because they have no choice but to be ready.

"That’s the nature of it," Garrett said. "Hopefully, you get better day after day, game after game. You have to improve over the course of the season. One of the things we always preach to our team is the players and teams that improve over the course of the season are the ones that are going to be there at the end."

"Are we ready? Are we playing at our optimum level right now? Absolutely not. In 31 other cities, if they’re honest, they’ll probably say the same thing. But after three preseason games this is where we are. We go back to work on Monday morning, keep trying to improve our football team and get ready for a great challenge against a team that has advanced to the NFC Championship the last three years."

Bruce Carter makes plays, impresses Jerry Jones - JJ Taylor, ESPN Dallas
JJT writes that Carter gave the coaching staff a glimpse Saturday of why they drafted him, with a pass deflection in the first quarter and a blocked punt that was nullified by a penalty.

"Actually Bruce had some good things happen for him tonight and I particularly like him on that pass coverage," owner Jerry Jones said. "He shows what he can be for you on plays out there. But I thought Bruce really in practice or in a game, probably has looked the best he’s looked."

Ron Leary has lead over Mackenzy Bernadeau for starting LG job | Brandon George, DMN
George writes that Leary has out-played Bernadeau at left guard for most of the preseason.

Bernadeau has been more noticeable because he hasn’t been as consistent as Leary. The Cowboys like Bernadeau’s position flexibility because he can play both guard spots and serve as the team’s backup center. And considering Bernadeau’s value as a key reserve at three different spots, the Cowboys appear best served to start the season with him behind Leary.

Romo Bounces Back After Dealing With First Hits - Rowan Kavner, DC.com
Those who wanted to see how Romo would react to contact got all they could have asked for, Kavner writes, as Romo got sacked three times and hit a fourth time without any apparent ill effects. Romo's resiliency and his staying in the game for the entire first half impressed Dez Bryant.

"Tony, he’s a true competitor, for real, man," Bryant said. "That’s what a lot of people don’t know. He wants it. He wants to be in. He fought to stay in on the drive that I came out. I came out a drive, I was hot and pissed. We only had three (points) up there. I understood, preseason, but somehow, someway, they let him go in. That’s what I’m talking about.

"It’s just the fight, the dog and the hunger. When he does it, it makes everybody else want to do it. That’s how a team becomes explosive."

Game grades: Patmon and Williams shine, bad day for left guards - Pro Football Focus
Left guards Ron Leary and Mackenzy Bernadeau combined for a -5.7 grade, Tyler Patmon led all Cowboys with +3.3, and Ryan Williams earned a positive grade on 8-out-of-12 rushing attempts.

Breakdown: There was a worrying sight when Williams had to leave the field before time had expired with another apparent injury, but all being well he once again caught the preseason eye. The blocking in front of him wasn’t great, but he didn’t need it to be as he looked decisive and explosive.

Dolphins 25, Cowboys 20: Dress Rehearsals - KD Drummond, Scout.com
On the off chance that you missed the game on Saturday, KD has a 2,629-word summary for you.

POLL: Zack Martin a better choice for Giants than Odell Beckham? - Big Blue View
Ed Valentine asks Cowboys fans whether the Giants should have drafted Zack Martin instead of Odell Beckham Jr. Here's the answer, as of very early this morning:

And while we're on the topic of Schadenfreude, there's also this double whammy:

The only quarterback @PFF has graded worse than RG3 so far this preseason is Eli Manning.

— Evan Silva (@evansilva) August 24, 2014