We chug along through most of February, March, April, May, June, and July to hear three sweet words.
“It’s football season.”
Such glory can only be topped by a special four-word sentence.
“The Preseason is over.”
That’s right. The next time that our beloved ‘Boys hit the field it’ll be for real. Get hyped! While that’s so exciting that I want to eat my foot (what’s wrong with me?) the Preseason finale must be discussed, analyzed, and considered.
Here are my 10 takeaways from the Cowboys preseason finale, a loss at home to the Houston Texans.
Darius Jackson Is Going To Be Very Valuable For This Team
When the Cowboys drafted Darius Jackson in the 6th Round of the 2016 NFL Draft, many scratched their heads. Just two days earlier they exercised the fourth overall pick on Ezekiel Elliott, and they’d already signed Alfred Morris, so… what?!
Darius Jackson may have only carried the ball 9 times for 21 yards and caught 3 passes for 32 yards (not to mention a fantastic screen he took to the house), but he does all the dirty work. This is a running back who will do whatever you ask him to do, and that’s just the kind of guy that you want on your football team.
Jameill Showers Is Not Ready To Be A QB2
I like Jameill Showers. A lot. I actually, despite this point’s heading, believe that he’ll make this team’s Final 53-Man Roster.
The reason Jameill is going to make this team is because of the circumstances surrounding that spot. He is one half of the two people that:
- Are currently capable of playing quarterback.
- Have a deep knowledge of the 2016 Dallas Cowboys playbook and scheme.
What we saw from Jameill was how do you say… not good? It wasn’t terrible, but it was enough to tell me that I don’t want him to be one injury away from being the primary signal-caller for America’s Team.
Deji Olatoye Had A Bad Game
The Cowboys have a precarious amount of depth at the corner position, and Deji Olatoye is part of that. Prior to the Preseason finale he was actually considered pretty great by most standards.
Over 112 snaps, opposing QBs have a 0.0 passer rating when throwing at #Cowboys CB Deji Olatoye this preseason. 👊 pic.twitter.com/GwJouCBysB
— PFF (@PFF) September 1, 2016
If you were unable to watch the Cowboys/Texans game in its entirety (I recapped it for you on the RJOShow) then here’s what you need to know about Deji’s night – he made Brandon Weeden look good. That’s how bad it was.
Deji Olatoye is a human being so he’s subject to a bad game. He’ll be alright. Don’t panic.
There’s No Way That Devin Street Makes This Team
If Devin Street defies logic, common sense, and gravity (shout out to Elphaba) and somehow makes this team… Andy Jones should consider it a personal insult.
Devin Street showed us who he is and who he’s always been since being drafted in 2014 – a bad wide receiver. He, like Jameill Shower this season, has made the roster two years in a row as a result of circumstance. That gravy train is ovah.
Cedric Thornton Has Been Disappointing
It caught the astute minds of Cowboys Nation off guard when Cedric Thornton played so much in what is typically a rest game for veteran starters… which is what we thought Cedric Thornton was going to be when we signed up for this whole dealio.
Cedric not only played, but he played pretty poorly. He’s still getting his feet wet under Rod Marinelli, but this didn’t do much to inspire the hope that Cowboys Nation has for an already depleted Defensive Line.
Cedric Thornton just had such a poor swim move that they should call it a drown move.
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) September 2, 2016
With nine days separating today and the season opener, Cedric Thornton needs to take some advanced swimming lessons and he needs take them yesterday.
Rod Smith Would Make A Great Fullback
A former Ohio State Buckeye carried the ball seven times (for 42 yards) for the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, and his name wasn’t Ezekiel Elliott. Say whaaaat!
Rod Smith put on a nice little showing in the preseason finale, and he showed that he’s certainly an able back in the NFL… against weaker talent on defense. Rod has undoubtedly spent a great amount of time since April 29th being known around the halls at Valley Ranch/The Star as “Jaylon’s brother,” but for one night – he was the Star.
It’s hard to tell exactly what direction the Cowboys are going to go at fullback, but if they go Rod Smith’s he’ll be able to handle it.
Rico Gathers Is A Football Player
Rico Darnell Gathers made his first NFL catch and even made a great move, demonstrating some athleticism, right after it to gain eight yards.
How does Rico have such high levels of athleticism? He played basketball! I’m sure you’ve never heard that before.
It was nice to see the Cowboys Tight End project get some work and show off what Mike Pope has been teaching him. The Cowboys might try to stash Rico on the practice squad, but it won’t necessarily be a slam dunk. Hey, I had to get one basketball pun in.
Anthony Brown Was A Great Choice
The Cowboys celebrated the drafting of Cornerback Anthony Brown in the sixth round because they had a fourth-round grade on him. That’s what we call an actual slam dunk! …sorry I had to.
Brown was all over the place throughout this contest, and he gave Cowboys Nation flashbacks to 2015 when we saw Brandon Weeden throw an interception… into Brown’s awaiting arms. To make matters even more fantastic, Anthony took it to the house.
Great corner play… man I like that.
Kavon Frazier Can Cover As Well As He Hits
Dallas found themselves in multiple goal-line defensive situations, and Kavon Frazier took care of some business when they did.
Kavon had a phenomenal pass break-up when he leapt up in the air and batted the ball away with his hand. It was so foreign and weird to see a Dallas Cowboys Safety do something besides try to obliterate someone with their shoulder-first tackle. Weird.
Ryan Russell Cannot Be Counted On
The most forgotten-about storyline of the offseason seems to be that DeMarcus Lawrence is going to miss the first four games of the season, oh and Randy Gregory might not ever play again. So yea. Cool.
This team is in drastic need of some pass-rushers and the hope/prayer all along has been that sophomore player Ryan Russell would step up and fill that void. He hasn’t. At all. Not even a little bit.
Russell has perhaps been the most disappointing player of all 90 that the Cowboys started the Preseason with. He, like Jameill, is going to make this roster simply out of its necessity for people who play his position. Yikes.
What were your takeaways from Thursday night’s Cowboys/Texans Preseason Game? Let us know! Comment below, Email me at RJ@RJOchoaShow.com, or Tweet to me at @RJOchoa!
