OXNARD, Calif. – We spend enough time talking about the starters on this team. For one day let's talk a hard look at the young guys, because that's exactly what the Cowboys did on Sunday.
The Blue/White Scrimmage usually serves as a preseason warmup for the Cowboys' rookies and developmental players, and it's always an entertaining look at what might happen when the lights come on. Here's a look at what I saw:
The Blue/White Scrimmage is a nice warmup for the first preseason game of the year. Which youngsters stood out in the Cowboys' extended practice on Sunday?
I liked the call from Kellen Moore to open the scrimmage with a screen pass to Mike Weber. At the outset the play appeared to have an opportunity for big yards -- until Joe Jackson sprinted 15 yards from his right defensive end position. Jackson covered some serious ground to get to Weber and smashed him before he had a chance to get much further up the field. It was an impressive show of hustle and desire by Jackson to get that ball and that's exactly what this coaching staff is looking for from him. Hopefully he can carry this over into the preseason games.
What a tough run by Mike Weber to finish off the Blue/White scrimmage. It initially appeared as if Weber was going to be stopped for no gain, but he was able to spin out of the pile. Jameill Showers, Jalen Jelks and Mike Jackson all had a shot at Weber but none of them could get their arms around him. By keeping his legs driving, Weber was able to bounce outside and finish in the end zone with a touchdown.
Heck of a play by Donovan Wilson to knock the ball out of Reggie Davis' hands. Davis broke hard to the inside and was open but, Mike White delivered the ball a little high, forcing Davis to jump for the ball. It was that adjustment by Davis that knocked him off balance, allowing Mike Jackson and Wilson to close the ground on him. Wilson was then able to work his right hand inside to punch the ball loose. Donovan Olumba, hustling from the other side of the field, alertly was able to make the recovery to give the defense the ball on the turnover.
It's not often that you see a reverse called in a scrimmage, but Kellen Moore dipped into his bag of tricks and did just that. When Cooper Rush handed the ball to Jordan Chunn I thought it was going to be a normal running play off the left side, but then Chunn flipped the ball to Cedrick Wilson going the other way. It was such a well- executed play that it had defenders colliding with each other. Wilson picked up a crushing block from Joe Looney on Kavon Frazier and another block from Cooper Rush to get into the end zone.
We've see this offense take advantage of the aggressive nature of Kris Richard and this defense. When Richard has blitzed, Kellen Moore's adjustment has been to throw the ball on the swing pass to the back. Mike White was dealing with that exact situation, but it was compounded due to a missed block inside on Nate Hall. White managed to keep his poise and calmly deliver a pass to Jordan Chunn. To Chunn's credit, the ball was a little behind him and he did an outstanding job of taking it in, keeping his balance and getting up the sideline for a sizeable gain.
Speaking of Donovan Olumba, he has been able to put together some positive back-to-back practices as he continues his quest for a roster spot. Not only has Olumba used his length to his advantage in coverage, but he's also shown a willingness to stick his nose in the action with a nice tackle on Jordan Chunn in the open field. Chunn took a pass from Mike White and started up the field with a head of steam. Olumba stepped up to meet him as Chunn attempted to spin away. Olumba lowered his shoulder into Chunn and wrapped him up until help could arrive from Nate Hall.
Good teamwork by Nate Hall and Donovan Wilson to bring Jordan Chunn down for no gain. Hall read the play the entire way and beat the second level block by Derrick Puni. Hall was actually two full steps ahead of Puni as he raced through the hole. More impressively was Wilson taking on Mitch Hyatt at the point of attack. Wilson stood up Hyatt, keeping his right arm free, then discarded Hyatt to help Hall on the tackle. It's not often you see secondary players get rid of blockers like Wilson did.
After a perfect day on Saturday, Brett Maher was far from that on Sunday. The offense had driven the ball inside the 15-yard line with just four seconds left on the clock. Needing a Maher field goal to win the game from 32 yards, he pulled it badly to his left. As a matter of fact, it wasn't even close. The snap from L.P. Ladouceur was on the money. Chris Jones spun the laces away so the operation from that standpoint was perfect. Maher's plant foot didn't slide – he just overcooked it and cost his team.
