What We Saw: Every Game From Preseason Week 2

Cowboys vs Rams

 

Dallas Cowboys

 

Quarterback

• Dak Prescott: 5/5, 64 yards, 1 sack
• Mike White: 7/13, 30 yards, 1 INT,
• Cooper Rush: 10/16, 83 yards, 1 TD, 2 sacks, 1 carry, 10 yards

Dak Prescott only played one drive against mostly backups, but he did look sharp in his limited action. His highlight was a nice throw to Michael Gallup where he placed the ball in a spot that let his receiver make a play on it without letting the defensive back have a chance. Otherwise he mostly took what the defense gave him, but he was accurate on all of his throws. White and Rush continued their battle for the backup quarterback position with White getting the first shot tonight. White struggled with his accuracy on a few throws, and his interception was both a poor decision and a poorly thrown ball. Rush was a little better while leading the Cowboys on a scoring drive that was helped along by several penalties from the defense. He looks to have the edge for the backup job at this point.

 

 Running Back

• Tony Pollard: 5 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD, 1 reception, 9 yards
• Mike Weber: 6 carries, 12 yards
• Alfred Morris: 3 carries, 6 yards

While Ezekiel Elliot’s holdout continues, the Dallas backfield is one of the more interesting position groups to watch. Pollard stole the show tonight, displaying good vision and power on several runs as well as some ability as a pass catcher. He consistently broke through first contact, including on his touchdown run where he broke through a few weak tackle attempts before absorbing contact well to fall forward into the end zone. If Elliot misses any time, Pollard seems like the running back to own here, and he is definitely someone to target in the later rounds. The other backs were mostly uninspiring, but Weber did have a nice run to pick up a first down and ice the game away late.

 

Wide Receiver/ Tight End

• Michael Gallup: 1 reception, 31 yards
• Jason Witten: 1 reception, 10 yards
• Devin Smith: 3 receptions, 24 yards, 1 TD
• Cody McElroy: 2 receptions, 21 yards
• Tavon Austin: 2 receptions, 12 yards

Gallup’s one reception was one of the highlights of the night–a play where he did an excellent job of reading the football and adjusting in the air to catch the ball before somehow getting both his feet in bounds. It was his only target, but it was the type of throw that showed he’s improved his chemistry with Prescott. As a second-year receiver, Gallup is an interesting breakout candidate and this type of play is exactly what he needs to do during the season to take that step forward. With Amari Cooper dealing with a foot problem right now, Gallup is certainly worth taking a flier on. Devin Smith also had a good night, showing some of the speed that made him an interesting prospect out of college. His touchdown was a pretty routine play where he beat single coverage near the goal line, but he did a good job reeling in a ball that was a little overthrown.

 

Los Angeles Rams

 

Quarterback

• Blake Bortles: 7/11, 62 yards, 1 TD
• Brandon Allen: 14/21, 115 yards, 1 INT
• John Wolford: 5/9, 26 yards, 4 carries, 8 yards

The Rams sat their starters, so we got another long look at their depth options. Blake Bortles looked more comfortable in the offense tonight, but most of his completions came on check-downs or designed passes to the running backs. John Wolford’s drives were interesting to watch as he brings a bit more mobility to the offense than the other passers, but unfortunately he never got much going. The Rams had a lot of their drives stall due to penalties, so it was tough for all of their quarterbacks to really establish any rhythm. Brandon Allen had a nice play where he recovered from a bad snap to roll out of the pocket and throw a strike downfield, but otherwise no real notable plays.

 

Running Back

• Darrell Henderson: 6 carries, 16 yards, 6 receptions, 38 yards
• John Kelly: 5 carries, 11 yards, 1 reception, 9 yards
• Justin Davis: 5 carries, 22 yards, 2 receptions, 6 yards

Darrell Henderson seemed like he was the focus of the offense tonight, getting 12 touches and appearing to be the first read on a lot of passing plays. He looked good as a receiver, making a nice catch on a wheel route for a big gain and showcasing his impressive abilities in space. His carries on the ground were less impressive as he was typically brought down by first contact. The Cowboys did have most of their starters in against the backup offensive line of the Rams, but Henderson failed to stand out as a runner. Malcom Brown sat out tonight which probably means he’s the true handcuff to starter Todd Gurley and his questionable knees. The receiving work for Henderson was encouraging, and he should be able to carve out some type of role as a pass-catcher come the regular season. John Kelly’s most exciting play was a successful block in pass protection that probably cemented his spot on the team as the fourth running back.

 

Wide Receiver/ Tight End

• Jalen Greene: 4 receptions, 43 yards
• JoJo Natson: 2 receptions, 12 yards, 1 TD, 1 carry, 9 yards
• Nsimba Webster: 4 receptions, 38 yards
• Mike Thomas: 2 receptions, 23 yards

Since so much of the receiving work went through the running backs, there was not much left to go around for the receivers. Jalen Greene had a nice catch down the sideline for a big gain to go with a few shorter receptions. JoJo Natson’s touchdown came on a short route out of the slot where he found a soft spot in the zone after cutting to the center of the field. Natson might not be the best athlete, but he showed that he could make some plays in space and he could be an interesting piece for the Rams if he is pressed into playing time. 

 

— Dan Adams