This is the way the preseason ends.
Not with a bang, but a whimper.
T.S. Eliot wasn’t speaking specifically about the Cowboys game with Jacksonville at noon Sunday at AT&T Stadium. In fairness to the renowned poet/playwright, his wording was a bit different.
But you get the idea.
No Dak Prescott or Ezekiel Elliott in the pre-season finale. We know, we know. You didn’t see them in the previous three games, either. But you could see the quarterback who will earn the job as Prescott’s backup.
Unless a better option comes along as teams around the NFL cut their rosters in the coming days.
Resolving the quarterback depth chart is the top priority for the Cowboys in their pre-season finale. There are others. This is a player’s closing argument for why he should make the roster or for where he belongs on the depth chart.
“We’ll definitely get the younger players to play,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “We’re going to sit probably 30 players, just really to get the information and make sure we maximize the opportunity for the final roster.”
Offense
Garrett Gilbert took the snaps with the starters in practice for the first three weeks Prescott was out with a latissimus strain. The coaching staff didn’t waver in their commitment or belief that he would be the backup heading into the season.
Now, they’re not sure.
This qualifies as a miscalculation. Would the coaching staff love to see a heated battle for the No. 2 job going into the Jaguars game? Sure, if it meant that young, developmental quarterback Ben DiNucci had come on strong and was pushing for the position.
That’s not the case. DiNucci appears to have played his way off the active roster this pre-season. The fact Gilbert hasn’t nailed down the job at this stage says more about his lackluster performance than it does any surge Cooper Rush has mounted.
“We kind of said all along we want to use all four games to go through this process," said offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who will focus on the opener with Tampa Bay and step aside to let quarterback coach Doug Nussmeier call Sunday’s game. “We’ve been in their shoes, and you don’t want to shut the book too soon.
“Let this thing play itself out."
Rush got to work with the starters this past week and will start Sunday’s game. McCarthy said the plan is to split time between Rush and Garrett then turn the game over to DiNucci.
“Right now it’s everything, right?” Rush asked. “Fourth preseason game. Competing for a spot.
“That’s the name of the game."
Fullback Sewo Olonilua and running back Rico Dowdle appeared to have earned roster spots with their performance until injuries wiped out their seasons. That leaves the door open for JaQuan Hardy and Brenden Knox at running back and Nick Ralston at fullback.
“This is huge for them," Moore said. “Go play ball.
“Hopefully they’ll play great and make it tough on us to make decisions for their future. We really are excited for those guys.
“We’ll see what happens."
Defense
Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn will miss his second, consecutive game as he remains in COVID protocol. Joe Whitt Jr. will call the game from the booth as he did last week against Houston.
Not much is unsettled on this side of the ball. That would normally be an ominous sign considering how poorly this group performed in 2020, but Quinn’s arrival and an influx of young talent have produced encouraging results.
There are a few roster composition questions to address — does the coaching staff keep only five linebackers and add a spot in the secondary? — but otherwise it will be about getting more snaps for the younger players.
“We have a great, veteran group ahead of me,” said fourth-round pick Jabril Cox, whose spot on the linebacker depth chart is secure. “Just learning from them early on.”
Special teams
Veteran Greg Zuerlein will see his first action as he works his way back from off-season back surgery. Special teams coordinator John Fassel expresses no concerns about whether or not the kicker will be ready for the opener.
His focus will be on finalizing the team’s punt and kickoff units.
That’s where the loss of players like Dowdle and Olonilua are really felt. Dowdle was a key player in all four coverage units and Fassell calls the back’s season-ending hip injury “a devastating blow."
Special teams will look much different from last season due to the turnover on the roster. Fassel likes the way veterans Jayron Kearse and Maurice Canady have been able to work into the units. He said Cox has proven to be valuable. Rookies corners Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright will continue to get work on special teams in this game.
“You kind of really don’t know until you kick off a regular-season game exactly what you’re going to have," Fassel said. “It’s still a work in progress because there’s still some answers that we don’t have."
Catch David Moore on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) with the Musers at 9:35 every morning and the Hardline several times a week at 4:30 p.m. during Cowboys training camp.
source: https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2021/08/28/what-to-watch-for-in-cowboys-jaguars-including-dallas-top-priority-in-its-preseason-finale/
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