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When the quarterback is struggling, how difficult is it to evaluate the other players on offense in these preseason games? –Henry Williams**/Oklahoma City, OK
Nick: That's a great question and usually in the preseason, the problems stem from the offensive line. In the past, the O-line depth has been very thin and so the preseason games have been difficult because of that very reason.
In this case, it's more on the quarterback and passing game. And yes, evaluating wide receivers has been tough because of that. And if the offense isn't moving the sticks, then the running game isn't being evaluated either.
The Cowboys ran just 18 offensive plays in the first half on Saturday. We've seen drives that lasted nearly that long so to think you went two full quarters and only ran 18 plays, it goes to show how tough it is to evaluate the entire offense. Obviously, there are other ways to evaluate players, such as the training camp practices but you wanted to see many of them shine in the preseason and for one reason or the other, they didn't the best evaluation possible.
Kurt: Sure, evaluating other positions is likely easier when the quarterback is playing well and the offense is in rhythm. Success breeds success, as they say.
But even if the man behind center is having a rough time of it (as we've certainly seen), that doesn't prohibit coaches, scouts and the front office from grading the play of those surrounding him. Wide receivers still have to run crisp routes, the linemen still have to block and the running backs still have to cut through the right holes, no matter what.
Where it can perhaps become harder is when there is a reduction in opportunities. As we saw last Saturday, the Cowboys ran only 18 plays in the first half and 47 for the game, due in large part to Joe Milton's struggles. That's obviously not ideal when you're either a player trying to make an impression or a coach trying to evaluate talent, technique, smarts, etc. The more chances, the better.
So in that regard, yes, it perhaps is more difficult, but as far as what each man is doing on each play, that shouldn't change much. Every player still has to take care of his own business even when someone else isn't taking care of his. A spot on the team could depend on it.
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