Cowboys Pre-Season struggles

We are now 3 games into Dallas's Pre-season schedule and the results have been underwhelming. The Cowboys came into camp with very few jobs available. This is a veteran team with few players really trying to make the team. Perhaps having so many guys with spots locked up (especially on Offense) has created a camp that lacks intensity, or maybe it's simply a slow start to the season. Regardless of the reason, it is easy to see that the Cowboys have been thoroughly disappointing thus far.

The Offense has been the real culprit to the poor pre-season. The Cowboys have mustered only 1 offensive Touchdown in 3 games, and that came on the heels of a 80-yard fumble return by Barry Church. The Offense has been terrible at every position.

• Tony Romo (13-28, 141, 1-1) has been, at best, not good. His 5 yards per attempt combined with his 46% completion rate are putrid. He has been inaccurate and his timing with his receivers, not just Roy, has been inconsistent. Romo needs to get things together Saturday to build confidence going into the season.
• Felix Jones and Marion Barber have both been bottled up so far. Jones (6-15) and Barber (8-25) haven't had a ton of carries, but have not been productive when given the ball. Choice has been the best back (18-69), but is still averaging less than 4 yards per carry.
• The Receivers have not done Romo many favors either. Austin dropped a 1st down pass in the 2nd quarter against the Chargers, and their have been multiple drops throughout the Pre-season. Receivers have slipped on routes, and the bad timing is partially their fault.
• The Offensive Line has not been great either. I'm not an expert on blocking techniques, but I know it hasn't been good. There have been few holes for the running backs to run through, and they look confused at times. Romo's interception against San Diego came after Leonard Davis completely missed his block on the blitz and the LB ran untouched through the middle of the line. The Line's play will have to improve for this team to be a contender.
  

Their have been a few bright spots. David Buehler looks very good, and the Defense is picking up right where it left off last season. Alan Ball has looked excellent as he blends into the starting safety roll. He flies to the ball, and has been solid in pass coverage. The Cowboys have found an abundance of good looking 4th Corner/special team guys. Brian McCann, Cletis Gordon, Barry Church (Safety and leading tackler), Jamar Wall, and Danny McCray have all looked very good. Church and McCray have been excellent covering on special teams, and McCann, SMU, has looked good in the return game. It will be a tough decision at the end of camp of which 1-2 to keep here. I expect Gordon and Church will make the team, with McCann being signed to the practice squad. Wall and McCray may also have futures on the practice squad.

As we move forward in the Pre-season I will be watching this Offense very closely. I'm not worried about us being an anemic offensive team this year, but I would like for the Offense to be clicking going into the season. This division will be very tough this year, and a slow start would make things very difficult. Dallas plays in Houston Saturday night and should play the starters for the first half, and possibly the 3rd quarter. This will be an important 3 quarters for the team. The Offense needs to put up some points, and find some timing and consistency as they prepare to go into the season. The Starters will not be on the field much during the final game. It will also be important for the Defense, especially the secondary, as Schaub will be the toughest test they will see in the Pre-season.

The Cowboys are a trendy Super Bowl pick as we head toward the season. For this to become a reality the Cowboys will need to make improvements in the next 2 weeks. They have not even looked like a playoff contender yet. I know the potential for greatness is there, but I'm not making any Super Bowl declarations just yet.



A couple notes:

• Rich Harden's 6 2/3 no-hit innings last night was his best start thus far as a Ranger. Harden still had 5 walks, but had an incredible movement on all of his pitches. The feat was even more incredible as the Twins have been the top hitting team in the AL since the All-Star break. If Harden can find some consistency, and repeat performances like last night's, the Rangers will be able to have an incredible Playoff rotation with Lee-Wilson-Lewis-Harden.
  
• The Rangers successfully signed their first 20 selections including 1st supp pick Pitcher Luke Jackson. Jackson, a Miami commit, was hitting 96 and in the Spring, and signed on the deadline day for $1.557 Mil. Jackson, a late riser, is a guy who could make some noise quickly. The Rangers also signed in the last 2 days college Juniors Justin Grimm (Georgia) and Nick Tepesch (Missouri). Both Pitchers were seen as possible 1st round picks coming into the year, but feel due to poor Junior years. Both signed for over-slot money and could be nice signs if they can harness their stuff.
  
• Roddy Beaubois had successful surgery, and has begun rehab on his injured ankle. He is expected to miss all of pre-season camp, but should be ready to go around the start of the season. This will likely delay his entrance into the starting lineup, but shouldn't be a long-term issue.