Cowboys' key questions
Staff writer Calvin Watkins looks at the Cowboys' important areas following Saturday's game:
First-team offense
Last week, the first-team offense scored only six points in two series with Tony Romo at quarterback. Saturday, Romo led his team to 24 first-half points.
Romo, who played only the first half, completed 11 of 18 passes for 122 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
He hit a long completion to wide receiver Sam Hurd, who fumbled after making the catch.
Dallas did not punt with Romo running the offense.
As was the case last week, Romo's first pass was intended for Terrell Owens. Unlike last week, when he completed that pass, this one was knocked down by Denver defensive end John Engelberger.
Cowboys/NFL
Owens, who had one catch for 12 yards, also gained 9 yards on an end-around on the Cowboys' second possession. Owens said he likes being used in different ways to help the offense.
"It's been a while since I've done it," Owens said. "Anytime I can get my hands on the ball in this offense it will help us move the ball and make some things happen."
The Cowboys' offense with Romo was strong. In seven first-half possessions, the Cowboys scored six times and missed a 51-yard field goal.
Dallas gained 368 yards on 70 plays, including 190 on the ground.
Left tackles
Starting left tackle Flozell Adams and starting right guard Marc Colombo made their preseason debut Saturday. Each is recovering from knee surgery, and the Cowboys are bringing them along slowly in practice. During two-a-days, the starting tackles would practice once.
Against Denver, neither allowed a sack, and Adams made a good block on Owens' end-around.
"It's always good when you don't give up any sacks," Adams said. "We did a pretty good job out there."
Colombo was beaten by defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban on a pass play on the Cowboys' first possession. Ekuban knocked Romo down after he threw a pass.
Colombo also lost sight of rookie defensive end Jarvis Moss from Denton Ryan. Romo stepped up in the pocket, tripped on a lineman's foot and fell down. Moss touched him for the sack.
Ken Hamlin
The starting free safety would have made his debut last week if not for a slight concussion. Hamlin has recovered and played against the Broncos. He finished with one tackle. Hamlin's presence, along with Denver's strong running game, allowed strong safety Roy Williams to blitz more and to move closer to the line of scrimmage. Hamlin, a noted hard hitter, made an impact with a strong tackle on Travis Henry in the second quarter on a third-and-6. The tackle forced a field goal attempt by Jason Elam.
Pressure on the quarterback
The Cowboys didn't blitz much in last week's preseason opener against Indianapolis. But with Denver running more and starting quarterback Jay Cutler's quick release, the Cowboys blitzed. Denver was missing one of its offensive linemen and mixed in some second-teamers in the first half. But Akin Ayodele, Bradie James, DeMarcus Ware and Williams blitzed several times, forcing some rushed throws.
"You can see this is [what] this defense is predicated on, getting pressure on the quarterback," Ware said. "We want to make big plays earlier than first and second down to create those longer third- and-10s and third-and-7s."
Kickers
Nick Folk got back into the kicker race when he made a 52-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in the first half.
Martin Gramatica, who took the lead in the competition last week with some good kickoffs and a 47-yard field goal, was wide right on a 51-yarder in the first half.
Folk was better with his kickoffs this week. He sent two kicks into the end zone and one to the goal line. Gramatica, who's supposed to have the weaker leg, sent two kicks 5 yards deep and another to the Denver 4.
"I've got to reflect on everything," special teams coach Bruce Read said. "Martin's kickoffs are great, and that was supposed to a knock on him."
Recently signed punter Sam Paulescu kicked off to start the second half. A delay of game penalty moved the ball back 5 yards, but Paulescu sent the kick to the Denver 6.
Read said Paulescu sent one kickoff 9 yards and another 8 yards into the end zone during pregame warmups.
First-team offense
Last week, the first-team offense scored only six points in two series with Tony Romo at quarterback. Saturday, Romo led his team to 24 first-half points.
Romo, who played only the first half, completed 11 of 18 passes for 122 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
He hit a long completion to wide receiver Sam Hurd, who fumbled after making the catch.
Dallas did not punt with Romo running the offense.
As was the case last week, Romo's first pass was intended for Terrell Owens. Unlike last week, when he completed that pass, this one was knocked down by Denver defensive end John Engelberger.
Cowboys/NFL
Owens, who had one catch for 12 yards, also gained 9 yards on an end-around on the Cowboys' second possession. Owens said he likes being used in different ways to help the offense.
"It's been a while since I've done it," Owens said. "Anytime I can get my hands on the ball in this offense it will help us move the ball and make some things happen."
The Cowboys' offense with Romo was strong. In seven first-half possessions, the Cowboys scored six times and missed a 51-yard field goal.
Dallas gained 368 yards on 70 plays, including 190 on the ground.
Left tackles
Starting left tackle Flozell Adams and starting right guard Marc Colombo made their preseason debut Saturday. Each is recovering from knee surgery, and the Cowboys are bringing them along slowly in practice. During two-a-days, the starting tackles would practice once.
Against Denver, neither allowed a sack, and Adams made a good block on Owens' end-around.
"It's always good when you don't give up any sacks," Adams said. "We did a pretty good job out there."
Colombo was beaten by defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban on a pass play on the Cowboys' first possession. Ekuban knocked Romo down after he threw a pass.
Colombo also lost sight of rookie defensive end Jarvis Moss from Denton Ryan. Romo stepped up in the pocket, tripped on a lineman's foot and fell down. Moss touched him for the sack.
Ken Hamlin
The starting free safety would have made his debut last week if not for a slight concussion. Hamlin has recovered and played against the Broncos. He finished with one tackle. Hamlin's presence, along with Denver's strong running game, allowed strong safety Roy Williams to blitz more and to move closer to the line of scrimmage. Hamlin, a noted hard hitter, made an impact with a strong tackle on Travis Henry in the second quarter on a third-and-6. The tackle forced a field goal attempt by Jason Elam.
Pressure on the quarterback
The Cowboys didn't blitz much in last week's preseason opener against Indianapolis. But with Denver running more and starting quarterback Jay Cutler's quick release, the Cowboys blitzed. Denver was missing one of its offensive linemen and mixed in some second-teamers in the first half. But Akin Ayodele, Bradie James, DeMarcus Ware and Williams blitzed several times, forcing some rushed throws.
"You can see this is [what] this defense is predicated on, getting pressure on the quarterback," Ware said. "We want to make big plays earlier than first and second down to create those longer third- and-10s and third-and-7s."
Kickers
Nick Folk got back into the kicker race when he made a 52-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in the first half.
Martin Gramatica, who took the lead in the competition last week with some good kickoffs and a 47-yard field goal, was wide right on a 51-yarder in the first half.
Folk was better with his kickoffs this week. He sent two kicks into the end zone and one to the goal line. Gramatica, who's supposed to have the weaker leg, sent two kicks 5 yards deep and another to the Denver 4.
"I've got to reflect on everything," special teams coach Bruce Read said. "Martin's kickoffs are great, and that was supposed to a knock on him."
Recently signed punter Sam Paulescu kicked off to start the second half. A delay of game penalty moved the ball back 5 yards, but Paulescu sent the kick to the Denver 6.
Read said Paulescu sent one kickoff 9 yards and another 8 yards into the end zone during pregame warmups.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:13 PM
<< Home