ARLINGTON — With the rush of headlines that came on Thursday from off-the-field stuff, it would’ve been fair for some to forget the Dallas Cowboys actually had a game Friday.
And, yes, while Micah Parsons drew attention for his pregame nachos and his in-game outfit choices — he didn’t wear his jersey on the sideline, for what it’s worth — there were also some takeaways from the actual game: a 31-13 win for the Cowboys over the Atlanta Falcons.
Let’s dive into them.
Blue debut
Cowboys fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue’s anticipated debut started just as everyone expected: with a tackle on the opening kickoff.
Note the hint of sarcasm there. Also, note that Blue had more to offer on Friday.
The statistics weren’t necessarily pretty for Blue, who left late in the game with an ankle injury. He finished with nine carries for 25 yards. He also showcased some of the abilities that warranted the excitement for his preseason debut. He had a touchdown where he broke through the tackle of Falcons linebacker J.D. Bertrand. He had a 13-yard burst earlier on the drive that set up the touchdown run.
He also played a good amount of special teams, offering a glimpse of how he may be used early during his NFL career. The Cowboys used him on kickoff, on kickoff return and in punt coverage.
Blue’s potential is intriguing, especially in a running back rotation that is mysterious, to say the least. When will he earn carries in it? We’ll see, but his potential is evident.
Much better
The Joe Milton-led Cowboys struggled early in the first two preseason games. They had 1 total yard through the first two drives against the Los Angeles Rams. Against the Ravens, it actually got worse: the Cowboys had minus-five yards in that same span.
Third time is the charm, I guess? Milton and the Cowboys looked much different, scoring on both of their first two possessions. Milton jogged into the end zone on a short touchdown run. Blue capped off a successful drive on the next for the score.
Milton, in particular, looked much improved. He was erratic in the first two games. On Friday, he looked calm and calculated, finishing 10 of 18 for 132 yards and two total touchdowns. He also played smart, throwing multiple passes away when there was nothing there.
Will that allow the Cowboys to risk it and keep only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster? Probably not, but it’s something worth watching.
Houston, we have a problem?
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked in his pregame radio interview with 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) specifically about defensive end James Houston’s rise from one of the last guys signed on the roster to the verge of making the team.
Jones responded by talking about the depth the team has at pass rusher and defensive end. It might be their deepest position, he said. Therein lies the problem.
“I’m concerned because of having space on the roster to keep that many of our guys that have pass rushing ability,” Jones said.
Even with all that depth, Houston is making a strong case to make the team. He led the team with two quarterback hits in Week 2 against the Ravens. He mentioned this week that he wasn’t satisfied, however, because he hopes to average at least a sack per game – just as he did during his rookie season in Detroit. He hit his quota on Friday quickly, sacking Easton Stick on the opening drive. He also had a tackle for loss and multiple pass rushes that forced quick decisions from Stick.
Houston was a long shot to make the roster when he signed. Now, it would almost be a surprise if he wasn’t on a 53-man roster this season – whether it’s with the Cowboys or elsewhere.
Welcome to the team?
Week 3 of the preseason is mostly reserved for players who haven’t locked up a roster spot. It’s a chance for the Cowboys to get one more look at players “fighting tooth and nail,” as Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said, for a continued chance in the NFL.
And for those players who are healthy and not playing, it’s a chance to likely relax, because they’ve likely secured a spot on the team.
The list of players not playing on Friday featured plenty of expected choices, but also a few surprises.
Two players who suited up but didn’t play were offensive tackles Nate Thomas and Hakeem Adeniji. The Cowboys could rely on Thomas to start Week 1 at left tackle while Tyler Guyton continues to recover from a knee sprain. The Cowboys might have seen enough to not risk losing another tackle for the showdown with the Eagles. Adeniji is interesting because the Cowboys still have a lot to figure out, seemingly, when it comes to their tackle depth. Adeniji not playing doesn’t necessarily bode well for Asim Richards, who’s entering his third season.
We’ll see if Adeniji is one of the tackles the Cowboys keep on the 53-man roster.
A win is a win
Schottenheimer mentioned multiple times this week that he wouldn’t let his players shrug off their poor performance last week as “just a preseason game.”
“It doesn’t matter … every time we get a chance to go out and compete you compete to win,” Schottenheimer said.
That’s true in their bad performances, and it should hold true in their good performances, too.
Yes, Friday’s game was just a preseason win, but for a first-time head coach – and a long-awaited one, too – it felt needed. The Cowboys had two disappointing duds in the first two weeks. A third in a row to cap off a winless preseason would’ve left a bad taste in their mouths before they headed into a hostile road game against the defending Super Bowl champions on opening night in less than two weeks.
So credit where it’s due: even if it was just a preseason game.
Finishing strong: See photos from Cowboys’ blowout win over Falcons in preseason finale
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
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