INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer warned us. He said the Cowboys would keep things simple in the preseason. They’d stay vanilla, as he said, because they didn’t have to show all their cards before the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In time, we’ll see if their other flavors – those hidden flavors – have more to offer. But the early returns on vanilla: not too tasty.
The Cowboys were defeated 31-21 by the Los Angeles Rams in Saturday’s preseason opener.
The biggest highlight for the Cowboys actually came off the field – or on the sideline, in particular. Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was run into by a sprinting official on the sideline. Lamb was penalized for it, too.
The moment proved to encompass Saturday’s preseason game pretty well.
Here five takeaways from the loss:
See photos as Cowboys kick off preseason vs. LA Rams
The Joe Milton show
It was only Tuesday when Joe Milton set the social media world on fire with his 70-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Brooks during a joint practice against the Rams. The highlight offered plenty of intrigue about what Milton would do against the same Rams on Saturday.
The initial performance didn’t match the intrigue, however. Milton looked very much like the raw quarterback prospect he was deemed to be when the Cowboys acquired him from the New England Patriots this offseason. He had three incompletions on the first three plays for the Cowboys, including a pass off the helmet of a Rams defender and a forced pass on 3rd-and-long that was nearly intercepted.
Milton eventually settled down, throwing a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Rivaldo Fairweather in the fourth quarter and following it with a pass to receiver Josh Kelly for the 2-point conversion. Milton finished 17-of-29 passing for 143 yards with a touchdown and an interception before leaving in the fourth quarter with an elbow injury.
The good news for Milton: He earned a lot of experience in the preseason opener. The Cowboys have Milton under control for three years. Their goal is to develop him. Saturday’s experience should only help with that project.
Questions left unanswered
Want a challenge? Try and project what the final cornerback room will look like when the Cowboys cut their roster to 53 players before the start of the season. Trevon Diggs, Josh Butler, Shavon Revel and Caelen Carson are all candidates to start the season on either injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list. The only guarantees outside of that are DaRon Bland and Kaiir Elam – the only healthy corners that didn’t suit up against the Rams.
Saturday was a chance for other corners to make an impression. That didn’t exactly happen. Starting corner Robert Rochell left with a hamstring injury early after missing a tackle and after he was beat deep on what would’ve been a touchdown if it was completed. Andrew Booth, the other starting outside corner, gave up one deep completion on fourth down on the opening drive, setting up a touchdown for the Rams.
There was at least one positive highlight, however. Israel Mukuamu had a highlight-reel interception on a deep pass in the third quarter.
There are a lot of questions to answer in the Cowboys’ secondary. Saturday didn’t necessarily help.
A battle brewing?
The Cowboys’ top-five wide receivers appear to be set. CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo are more than likely making this team.
But here’s a question that’s emerged through camp so far: Will they be the only wide receivers to make the team? Teams will often carry six receivers, but so far in camp it’s hard to say that any of the team’s other wideouts – outside an undrafted long shot such as Traeshon Holden – have impressed enough to warrant being the sixth receiver.
The two expected competitors heading into camp were Jalen Brooks and Ryan Flournoy. Both took positive steps against the Rams. Brooks had two catches on two first-half targets, including a leaping grab that helped set up a field goal. Flournoy was open multiple times, but Milton missed him on a few, including on an interception from Rams safety Cam Lampkin.
Those two will be interesting to watch as the rest of the preseason continues.
No need to see
The Cowboys didn’t play a lot of players against the Rams. Many were expected. Others were a bit surprising.
Cowboys first-round pick Tyler Booker said after Tuesday’s joint practice that there would be an opportunity for he and his teammates to learn lessons and immediately correct them. Booker didn’t have the chance. He and the rest of the starting offensive linemen – outside of backup Nate Thomas, who has been starting in Tyler Guyton’s absence – didn’t suit up.
Cowboys fullback Hunter Luepke also didn’t play against the Rams. Luepke has been earning a lot of carries in camp. Saturday looked like a good chance for him to showcase his running ability.
Schottenheimer indicated earlier this week that players who didn’t play on Saturday could still play in the other two preseason games. Even with that in mind, it was telling that Booker and Luepke didn’t play.
Good as usual
On the bright side, the Cowboys don’t have to worry about their special teams unit. Bryan Anger had a solid day punting. Brandon Aubrey made both of his field goals.
There’s reason to worry in some places, Special teams isn’t one of them.
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