Raiders vs Cowboys matchup focus

The Raiders play the Dallas Cowboys in their first preseason game on Thursday. And with the starters likely only playing a couple of series, this game is all about seeing what the young guys can do. It will be the first live game action so injuries are definitely a concern. Hey, just ask the Cowboys who have lost several key players in training camp as well as a few more in the Hall of Fame game last sunday.

VS Cowboy offense

The Cowboys will be without two of their key tight ends on Thursday and lost a couple more as well. Second string tight end Martellus Bennett was out for Sunday game and won’t play again on Thursday. His replacement John Phillips also went down with injury late in that game after Phillips looked like a more than worthy competitor to take Bennett’s spot on the roster. Phillips tore his ACL and is now lost for the season. Reserve tight ends Scott Sicko (concussion) is out Thursday and the team waived tight end Kevin Brock who sprained his right ankle in Sunday’s game.

The sudden rash of injuries caused the Cowboys to sign undrafted rookie free agent DajLeon Farr on Tuesday. So after just two days on the team, Farr is expected to play nearly the entire game as the lone tight end. Although, the Cowboys have said that starter Jason Witten will be forced to play more than the usual couple possessions to start the game. They just don’t have any other options.

The Cowboys are not entirely comfortable with their starting left tackles. They have been pleased thus far with Doug Free as the replacement to Flozell Adams but teams will continue to test him until they find his weak area– and they will. No new left tackle coasts along without having to tweak their game after defenders discover a chink in their armor. The Cowboys signed LT Alex Barron in the offseason and thus far he has looked terrible. It’s just as well because he hurt his ankle in Sunday’s game so the Raiders will not have the luxury of teeing off on Barron the way the Bengals did. However, the Cowboys are thin at tackle so the Raiders should still be able to get some nice pressure on second string quarterback Stephen McGee.

McGee showed in the Hall of Fame game that he can be quite mobile so it is possible he will be able to escape much of the pressure the Raiders will put on him. That is of course if he is healthy enough to do so. He was practicing with a wrap on his leg on Tuesday which was likely caused when he was tackled from behind on a scramble and taken down awkwardly. He may not be quite as fleet of foot in Thursday’s game as he was last week.

The Cowboy starting receivers right now are Roy Williams and Austin Miles. Dez Bryant is out with his injury for quite a while and we have a pretty good idea of what Patrick Crayton brings to the table. The guy I think should be watched out for on the Cowboys is rookie receiver Terrell Hudgins. He seems to have some quick feet as well as a good feel for the game. He and reserve WR Kevin Ogletree should give the young Raider corners plenty of practice. Raider Rookies Jeremy Ware and Walter McFadden along with young hopefuls Joe Porter and Joey Thomas will get tested pretty well in this matchup.

VS Cowboy defense

A player to watch is rookie starting corner Jamar Wall. He may get a few more snaps than some of the starters because he has only recently earned the starting role. He will line up on Darrius Heyward-Bey so we will get to see right away if the nice play DHB has displayed in practice will show up in the game. Wall held Chad Ochocinco without a catch in the Hall of Fame game with the only two passes thrown by Carson Palmer going to other side of the field to Terrell Owens.

The Cowboys are a bit thin in the secondary overall. Third year safety Alan Ball will be getting the start due to injuries to highly regarded rookie safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and safety Pat Watkins. Also out with injury is corner back Cletis Gordon.

This means that after the first units are off the field, the Raiders second and third string wide outs should be able to make some nice connections with Kyle Boller and Colt Brennan. I expect to see some nice play from the likes of Jonnie Lee Higgins, Nick Miller and Todd Watkins. If not then, the Raiders have some problems to address.

There are several defensive lineman who are looking to pick up the slack left by injured defensive end Marcus Spears. The one the Raiders should be looking out for intially is Stephen Bowen. He is attempting to make the best of his newfound reps and he got some good pressure against the Bengals QBs on Sunday. He will test Raiders rookie right guard Bruce Campbell a lot so if Campbell can keep him out of the backfield, we should get a great idea of Campbell’s abilities. And if Bowen gets through Campbell, that will tell us a lot too.

The Cowboys have a couple of linebackers that look to have a nose for the ball that Boller and Brennan need to be aware of. A couple of Brandons as a matter of fact. Brandon Williams and Brandon Sharpe both had interceptions in last weeks game and Sharpe returned his for a touchdown. They should make things difficult for Brennan when he makes his reads in his first game as a Raider after just a few days to learn the playbook.

ALSO SEE:

Colt Brennan is ready for Dallas, Nnamdi free to roam

First Impressions: Dallas all about the defense

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