Blogging The Boys
Every week, we gather to discuss the latest news about the Dallas Cowboys and seek our writer’s perspective on each headline. Welcome back to the roundtable. This week we have David Howman, Jess Haynie, and Tom Ryle.
Joe Milton looked significantly sharper at quarterback for Dallas in the matchup against Atlanta in the final preseason game last week. Compared to his previous outings, he showed a noticeable leap in composure and control of the offense. His poise in the pocket stood out as his decisions about getting rid of the ball improved.
His footwork was significantly cleaner, with more balance on his drops and better mechanics stepping into his throws (although still not perfect). That improvement translated directly into accuracy, as he delivered the ball with timing and precision, consistently putting it where only his receivers could make a play. Whether hitting quick routes in stride or driving the ball downfield, Milton’s ball placement was markedly better.
Tom: Milton was using some touch on his passes, and I think that’s pretty important. He clearly has a strong arm, but QBs have to be able to dial it back. I’m feeling noticeably better about the team locking in on him as QB2.
Howman: In a vacuum, I’d probably give Milton a solid B for this game. However, in the context of the last two preseason games, it would be an A just because we desperately needed to see this from him. I’m still not sold on Milton as QB2, especially over Will Grier, but this was encouraging.
Jess: It was a dramatic improvement from the last two games. The most obvious thing was the touch on throws, particularly on some out routes, that made for easy catches for his receivers. Early success led to confidence, which led to more success. Big for him in the last expected touches he’ll get. Now comes the hard part: does playing well for only about a third of the time really mean he is a capable QB2?
Which player was the biggest standout for you against the Falcons?
The Falcons game had some solid performers which is a good sign going into the regular season.
Milton was sharp, completing 10 of 18 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown as well as scoring on the ground via a 1-yard run.
Jaydon Blue made his NFL preseason debut count, running for 25 yards and a touchdown, showing promise before exiting with an ankle issue. Phil Mafah found the end zone with his first preseason touchdown, adding a powerful 15-yard run into the mix.
Signed at the beginning of training camp, James Houston turned heads throughout the preseason and capped it off with a notable sack against the Falcons. Highlighting the defensive effort, Shemar James jumped a route and snatched an interception, finishing off a solid preseason for the rookie...
