There was very little – if anything at all – positive to come out of Sunday night’s “Slaughter in San Francisco”.
The Cowboys were bludgeoned on both sides of the ball. No single player had much to crow about after the game.
About the only player who did play a perfect game was one of the rookies.
Brandon Aubrey connected on a 50-yard field goal and hit his only extra point try. He also got touchbacks on all three of his kickoffs.
When your kicker is the team’s best player in a game it’s never a good thing.
On to this week’s review of the Cowboys’ 11 rookies – with DeMarvion Overshown out for the year since the preseason.
Drafted
Mazi Smith – the first-round defensive tackle from Michigan – saw a season high in snaps on defense thanks to the blowout.
He got in on 22 plays – mostly in a mop-up role. He finished with one tackle – four yards downfield – with about four minutes left.
Tight end Luke Schoonmaker – a second rounder and also from Michigan – had one target in 20 offensive snaps.
Given Peyton Hendershot being out, Schoonmaker is not taking advantage of his playing time. He also saw another 15 on special teams.
Sixth-rounder Deuce Vaughn touched the ball four times out of his five offensive snaps.
He had seven yards on three carries and a one-yard reception.
He saw eight snaps on special teams. Vaughn had one punt return for 10 yards after taking over as the punt returner when KaVontae Turpin went down.
The rest of the draft class — Viliami Fehoko, Asim Richards, Eric Scott Jr., and Jalen Brooks – did not play.
Undrafted Free Agents
In addition to Aubrey’s efforts, the undrafted free agents saw some action against the 49ers. Guard T.J. Bass had 10 snaps on offense and two more on special teams.
Full back Hunter Luepke saw six snaps on offense and 19 more on special teams.
His only official stat was a solo tackle – his first in the NFL.
He did have one block on a running play by Tony Pollard that went awry. Luepke appeared to have outside leverage on the defender he engaged.
But Pollard cut back suddenly, and by the time Luepke realized Pollard wasn’t continuing around end it was too late.
It appeared Tyron Smith was to Luepke’s left and a couple of yards ahead and engaged in his own block.
So it seems the play was for Pollard to continue around end.
When Pollard cut back and the defender disengaged with Luepke, the rookie let him go. Once he saw Pollard had cut back he lunged but was unable to reengage the defender and the play ended.
Whether a misunderstanding of the play by Luepke, or a bad decision by Pollard, it wasn’t a good look for the North Dakota State alum.
Rookie Of The Week
No award. Nobody on the team, rookies or not, deserves any recognition for anything related to Sunday’s unmitigated disaster.
Upon Further Review
We’re about one-third of the way into the season and it has not been good for most of the rookies so far.
Aubrey is continuing to impress. He seems to have brought a stability to the kicking game that hasn’t been there for some time now.
Bass has been a solid surprise. He’s been a great back-up and filled in nicely as a starter.
Vaughn and Luepke are showing flashes of promise.
But neither is being utilized properly – a fact that applies to a lot of the players, rookies or not, this year.
Vaughn was supposed to be the Cowboys’ Darren Sproles. But Dallas isn’t running plays for him that would let him show that potential.
The same goes for Luepke.
He’s a great power back. But aside from his first touchdown against the Patriots, he too isn’t being set up to show it.
As mentioned before, Overshown was showing great promise before his preseason injury in Seattle.
Next year one hopes he stays on the field and fulfills that promise.
Richards has seen spot duty. He hasn’t stood out – either good or bad – when he’s been out there.
Fehoko, Scott, and Brooks can’t get onto the field so its hard to judge them so far.
Which brings us to Smith and Schoonmaker.
Can We Say Bust Yet?
Through five games, Smith has four tackles – two solo – one for a loss, and no sacks. He has yet to start a game and has played 79 snaps on defense.
The player taken three picks later – defensive tackle Bryan Bresee – has 154 snaps on defense.
Bresee has 1.5 sacks, 1 pass defended and four quarterback hits. He has seven tackles, five solo and three have been for a loss.
Do I have to even say the “B”-word regarding Smith?
Schoonmaker has seen more plays at tight end with Hendershot being out. But he’s only been targeted five times in the last three games.
He hasn’t caught a single pass in those three games either.
He let a touchdown bounce of his hands in one of those targets at that. He has one catch – a one-yard touchdown – for the entire season.
Are you sure we can’t say the “B”-word regarding Schoonmaker?
You would think the Cowboys had a plan for their first two picks, otherwise why draft them?
But whatever that plan was, if there was one, it isn’t working. It’s up to the coaching staff to figure out how to use these two before the “B”-word sticks.
Assuming that it hasn’t already.