The Cowboys are in San Diego for their first preseason game of the year. By this time of the year, players are ready to bang heads against opposing teams rather than fellow teammates they’ve been seeing all training camp. It is a preseason game, so I wouldn’t expect much action from the starters, maybe a few series at the most. This is already being called a preview to the SuperBowl, and while this is a premature assumption it could very well happen. We’ll see how the unpredictable season goes.
For now, let’s look at a few players we should be looking at during this game:
CB Mike Jenkins – Jenkins is part of the secondary upgrades the Cowboys were in desperate need of upgrading this offseason, so looking at Jenkins against a Norv Turner offense will be a great test for the rookie. He’s slated to start in this game, so he’ll see action against the Chargers 1st teamers. I’ll be watching how he matches up and makes his reads.
RB Felix Jones – besides Jenkins, Jones is the second guy I can’t wait to see in action. He’ll get his reps against a pretty solid Chargers defense. I want to see how he does in pass blocking, and it’ll be interesting how the Cowboys utilize him. Camp reports have him in some two back combos with Barber, so this will be nice to see. Jones already has better hands in the passing game than Julius Jones, so we could see some more dump offs of some dreaded screens. Historically, the Cowboys have been a horrible screen team, but maybe Garrett has some new schemes to test out with Jones.
TE Martellus Bennett – let’s face it, the camp reports have been consistenly negative on Bennett, so I want to see how he does in live action. Is his issue with practice the same as it is in live action, if so, we blew a pick here; however, if he comes out and plays good then, he’ll get a reprieve from Cowboys Nation. Bennett is in a battle for the #TE with Tony Curtis, so we’ll see who steps it up.
WR Danny Amendola – he gained attention with his plays in minicamps, and has continued to shine in training camp. I want to see how they utilize Amendola. You cannot deny a passing threat, so if Amendola keeps doing what he’s been doing, this undrafted rookie could leap frog several receivers. Practice is one thing, this live action will be significant to me, I’m pulling for him and hope the good news continues tonight. If he does well, you can start to pencil him on the 53 man roster. I don’t see the Cowboys dropping the ball on this find like they did with Matt Moore last year.
SS Roy Williams – no one is scruntized more on the team than Williams, and tonight will either have the doubters back entrenched more than ever, or maybe they will be surprised with his play. What I want to see is how they use Roy Williams, are they going to leave him on the field on passing downs, or will they sit him down, or move him around in nickle/dime packages. We will see.
DE Marcus Spears – this is a break or make year for Spears, yes he has been good on run defense, but the Phillps 34 is an attacking defense. Spears has not been that player under Parcells or Phillips. Reports have him swapping spots with defensive monster Jay Ratliff. Like I said before, when they start moving you around there’s an underlying issue. For Spears, they are trying to find him a spot to use him best, he’s not good at DE, and I don’t see how he’ll do any better up the middle at NT where Ratliff has been reaking havoc.
Wide Receivers – with Glenn gone, we’ll want to see who steps up in the passing game. So watch them closely too, Stanback, Hurd and Austin, pretty much all of them. Personally, I like Hurd the most from those three. Austin needs to be consistent in catching the ball, if I see more dropped passes from him that’ll be all she wrote in my eyes. Stanback is still in training mode, we’ll see how much he’s progressed.
Cowboys @ Chargers, NFL Network 9pm CST
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