LAS VEGAS — The Dallas Cowboys performed in Sin Metropolis for the primary time because the arrival of the Las Vegas Raiders and walked away with a 27-12 win to get within the W-column for the primary time this preseason.
As we method the 53-man lower within the coming weeks, there was quite a bit to remove from Saturday evening’s recreation. Listed below are the 5 Takes, introduced by Take 5 Oil Change.
1. The middle battle will come all the way down to the wire between Cooper Beebe and Brock Hoffman.
With a wholesome quantity of snaps in opposition to the Raiders tonight, rookie Cooper Beebe was dominant as his fast ascension into the middle place has put him firmly neck-and-neck with Brock Hoffman for the beginning position. It was Hoffman that began camp with an enormous push, however as Beebe has grown extra snug with the place, he has rapidly made up the bottom between the 2 contenders. As we put together for camp and the preseason to wind down subsequent week, regulate how shut this battle finally ends up being.
2. Deuce is likely to be the wanted juice.
We noticed a glimpse of it, proper? I wasn’t the one one? The working again room is in determined want of some juice behind Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle. Merely put, these guys aren’t going to be those to interrupt away on an enormous play. Along with his restricted alternatives tonight, Deuce Vaughn discovered some creases and in addition created some creases together with his fast toes on the skin. I must see much more earlier than I really feel snug with that trio being the featured backfield, however I just like the trajectory that Vaughn is on. Give me one massive recreation again in Dallas subsequent weekend and we will significantly discuss.
3. Julius Wooden deserves a roster spot within the security group.
There’s a vacant roster spot within the security group this season within the absence of Jayron Kearse, and whereas that further spot could possibly be used at a spot like linebacker extra realistically, I would not thoughts seeing Julius Wooden squeeze onto the 53-man roster. The undrafted free agent signing out of East Carolina comes downhill and thumps ball-carriers within the run recreation, can account for house within the move recreation and is a particular teams-savvy participant as well as. Once more, it will seemingly come all the way down to Wooden versus a participant from one other place, however I like what he is introduced this final month.
4. The defensive finish group from Saturday evening continued to not encourage any confidence.
Certain, this is not as massive of a priority as this was popping out of final week’s effort due to the pass-rush additions of Carl Lawson and Jordan Phillips this week, however it’s nonetheless price declaring that the Cowboys line of defense as soon as once more didn’t generate any stress on the Raiders backfield. The inside performed properly in opposition to the run, particularly Justin Rogers, however the finish group simply couldn’t get dwelling. By the top of the sport, Mike Zimmer was working nook and backer blitzes into the gameplan to get the ball out of Aidan O’Connell’s arms faster.
5. Marist Liufau resides as much as his draft choice.
A possibility to start out and play a wide range of roles sat on the desk for Marist Liufau on Saturday within the absence of DeMarvion Overshown (hip pointer) and Damone Clark (knee), and he took full benefit together with his downhill run matches and performs in protection throughout the center of the sphere. It was a lightweight workload for Liufau, however if you pair his two preseason performances together with his sturdy camp, you have got a outcome that appears like Dallas might not have reached within the third spherical again in April in any case. It is nonetheless early, however the returns are promising to date for the Hawaii native.