Blogging The Boys
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It’s been a tough go for some of the Cowboys’ bottom...
