Week 3 of the preseason is in the past. Here’s a quick recap of how America’s Team performed in their most recent game.
Offense
- Running back Tony Pollard has undoubtedly won the crowd. He shows apparent maturity and has a calm confidence that does not show any indication of fear under the NFL lights. Even though his touchdown screen pass didn’t count, he still displayed the speed, vision, and patience you want to see in a running back.
- Wide receiver Devin Smith has pretty much secured a roster spot unless there are unforeseen politics that keep him from making the roster. Cowboys receivers coach Sanjay Lal has done a great job of letting the field performance speak over his player preference concerning Smith. Smith has been awarded increased reps and has performed with the opportunity, posting six catches.
- As much as it is good to see swing tackle Cameron Fleming play well, it is a bad idea for him to play another preseason game. The fact that Fleming is the insurance policy to protect quarterback Dak Prescott’s blindside makes him too valuable for any more preseason gambles. No one should want to see any more of Fleming unless there is an injury to the starting tackles during the 2019 season.
- What is going on with running back Jordan Chunn getting more reps than Mike Weber? The faster, more fluid runner seems to be Weber out of the two running backs, but Chunn is getting a majority of the reps.
- Quarterback Cooper Rush should have grown on a lot of Cowboy fans as the backup to Prescott. Rush has consistently shown quality decision making, pocket presence, and an ability to manage a drive. The offseason pressure was on Rush to perform, and under the lights, he came through.
Defense
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- Whenever a defense can prevent a team from scoring, it is an excellent indication of the skill level of that defense. The preseason defensive goose egg by the Dallas Cowboy defense could have an artificial spike due to the Texans’ low morale from losing running back Lamar Miller.
- Defensive tackle Maliek Collins and defensive ends Taco Charlton and Kerry Hyder dominated from the defensive line positions. It is difficult even to highlight one of the three defensive players because of supreme havoc caused on the Texans’ offensive line.
- Should America’s team have picked up big receiver D.K. Metcalf over super stud defensive tackle Trysten Hill at pick No. 58 in the 2019 draft? Not to knock Hill because he was impressive as well, but the defensive line room is extra deep and talented. Hyder could be the 2019 version of the 2018 defensive lineman surprise Antwaun Woods.
- Former Texas A&M safety Donovan Wilson is starting to win the crowd. Wilson is displaying solid tackles, great footwork, and a knack for being in the right place at the right time to intercept the ball. It will be difficult for Wilson to find his way into the starting lineup, but the buzz in his future is undoubtedly growing louder.
- The best surprise on defense was to see UDFA cornerback Chris Westry finally take the field. To hear about the long corner is one thing. To see him relative to others on the turf is another. It is hard to miss cornerback Byron Jones with an athlete like Westry. Westry quickly dominated receivers from the line of scrimmage. Defensive back coach Kris Richard taught Westry cornerback techniques that makes him a must roster spot. There is no way the Cowboys should gamble with Westry on the practice squad.
- The saddest moment on the defense was Anthony Brown coming out first as the starting right corner over Jourdan Lewis. From the beginning of OTAs until now, Lewis has been the talk of the Dallas media. What more does Lewis have to do to entirely beat him out and end the non-stop competition between the two cornerbacks? Richard has said many times that Lewis is the exception to his ideal measurable but yet Lewis is not the exception on the depth part. When will somebody in the Cowboys organization stop the competition between Brown and Lewis and give Lewis his deserved starting job for good?
Special Teams
- Kicker Brett Maher was perfect on all his kicks, which should keep the concerns down for a moment. No one can say that Maher’s kicks were in the middle of the fairway from a golf analogy, but he was at least on the green.
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