LAS VEGAS – Not that any preseason sport will ever get inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, but when Canton ever does determine to bubble-wrap a single sport, it will not be this one right here Saturday night time in Las Vegas.
However that is by no means the purpose for video games like this. Staying wholesome is the last word aim and successful the sport is all the time a pleasant bonus. Nevertheless, seeing enchancment, particularly from week to week, is one thing all coaches attempt for.
And there isn’t any denying the Cowboys regarded like a totally completely different workforce right here Saturday night time than what we noticed simply six days in the past in Los Angeles.
Once more, throw the 27-12 rating out the window. Similar to it did not matter final week, getting the win this time is a pleasant bonus, however not the story of the night time.
The Cowboys acquired higher, and it began on Wednesday once they made a shocking commerce to accumulate veteran defensive sort out Jordan Phillips from the Giants for subsequent to nothing – swapping a sixth for a seventh-round decide in 2026. That is two years from now, nevertheless it took like two days for him to get right here and make a distinction.
I used to be stunned Phillips even performed within the sport, and he was in there for the primary two sequence. By my view – and it was fairly excessive within the press field at Allegiant Stadium – I feel Phillips took each snap. That is very spectacular for somebody his dimension, who hasn’t practiced all week and simply acquired right here, however he was capable of leap proper in.
Let me inform you, Phillips goes to be an enormous difference-maker. I watched him on each play, and whereas he does not get to the ball each time, he is somebody groups need to account for. At 345 kilos, Phillips is as large as a home and simply not possible to maneuver with one man. There have been a few instances he acquired held up on the line of scrimmage with a double-team, however probably not pushed again.
Simply take into consideration what a participant like that within the center can do for this protection, once you’ve acquired Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence on the surface and a linebacker like Eric Kendricks within the center.
Phillips was formally credited with one sort out and it wasn’t even a solo sort out. However there isn’t any doubt the Cowboys might be a greater protection with Phillips anchoring the center, even when he does rotate with Mazi Smith on the nostril sort out. For him to come back in and take about eight or 9 performs in a row, that is a powerful debut at a place of want.
OK, how else did the Cowboys get higher?
The operating backs now appear to have somewhat extra depth rapidly – to the purpose the place the Cowboys may have some powerful selections to make.
However getting Deuce Vaughn again on the sphere this week gave the impression to be large for this offense. Everyone knows Deuce rhymes with “juice” and No. 42 had a few of that Saturday night time. He really had it on Wednesday when he acquired again to follow after lacking greater than per week with a hamstring damage, and he was capable of carry that into the sport.
Personally, I believed Vaughn had one of the best run of any play we have seen since he acquired right here. And sure, I do know he had some landing runs final yr within the preseason, however these had been towards guys who most likely did not even make an NFL roster. On Saturday, Vaughn acquired within the sport when many of the Raiders’ starters had been on the market on protection, together with Maxx Crosby. However his 12-yard run the place he made a few guys miss was adequate to get the eyeballs popping up right here within the press field. It acquired just a few “Deuuuuuce” calls from the Cowboys followers within the stands, and you understand it acquired the eye of Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy, who’ve been ready for him to take that second-year leap. It is nonetheless early however Vaughn regarded actually good, and Royce Freeman wasn’t unhealthy both. I feel with these two, Malik Davis and Hunter Luepke, it may be attention-grabbing to see how the operating again room shakes out behind Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle.
And let’s speak in regards to the third quarterback. Trey Lance was significantly better this time round. Hey, his passes are nonetheless off-target at instances, however he regarded extra comfy within the offense and even acquired the ball into the top zone – due to a 1-yard landing cross earlier than halftime.
OK, so it wasn’t RIGHT earlier than halftime. As a result of that belonged to Brandon Aubrey, who blasted a 66-yard area aim as time expired. It isn’t just like the Cowboys acquired so much higher as a workforce due to that kick, and it is most likely not one McCarthy would even try fairly often within the common season. However let’s not overlook how correct he continues to be – irrespective of from 54 or 66. What per week for Aubrey, who left camp for a few days to witness the start of his son. He comes again and booms a kick that may’ve tied an NFL file in a regular-season sport.
Aubrey is an absolute weapon as a result of it appears as if the Cowboys are all the time going to be both in field-goal vary or shut.
And yet one more for good measure, the Cowboys may need a brand new middle now in Cooper Beebe. Final week, it appeared as if Brock Hoffman would win the job, however after getting first-team reps in follow after which his first begin on Saturday, Beebe was relatively spectacular – and remember it was towards the Raiders’ beginning protection.
All in all, there are many issues the Cowboys want to scrub up. However in a sport like this, there have been additionally just a few issues to get enthusiastic about it.
And greater than that, just a few issues that made the Cowboys a greater workforce than they had been final Sunday.