Dallas Cowboys 30 Tennessee Titans 10: A Statistical Review

toast and jam?

here

I wonder if there is a statistical breakdown by quarter for runs from last season. What I’m getting at is that will the run game pick up later in the game, when, in the preseason, the starting backs are sitting on the bench?

Think of it like this: the Titans like to play what my buddy and I call Fisherball- get a lead early, lean on the D and run out the clock by jamming the rock down the opponents’ throat with rush after rush after rush. Hard to run the rock late in the game if you’re no longer in the game, no?

I wouldn’t worry about the perceived lack of production from the run game, as you note.

Also, I’d just like to add that the defense looked absolutely TERRIBLE last night. Guys were missing arm tackles and falling off of guys left and right. I’d like to think that it was because everyone was just enthralled with the new stadium and wasn’t thinking straight.

And, was it just me, or was anybody else absolutely sick of that new friggin scoreboard by the second quarter? Everytime there was a break in the action it seemed as if someone had something to say about it. ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!

Is how big a hole there would be if that thing fell.

but hardly time to be concerned. Don’t fret too much about the preseason running game – we already KNOW the Titans can run the ball. I’m more interested in whether we’ll have a second weapon in the arsenal – that new-fangled, fancy-pants thing the kids in today’s NFL call a “passing game.”

It has been, at best, a mixed bag in that respect – so far. I have noticed a significant decrease in my own personal “please don’t drop the ball” feelings when Cook, Washington, and Britt are out there. From an anecdotal experience, it means a lot when I don’t automatically assume a great chance of dropped passes every time the QB steps back to throw. Simple sure-handedness can help this team every bit as much as a downfield burner. Still, the passing game is still largely predicated on not making mistakes – which often works well until you come-up against a Baltimore or New England. Hopefully, they show us something in Pittsburgh and it’s not 15 missed third down conversions.

The starting defense was mostly bend-but-don’t-break – nothing new there – give up some yards and big plays, but mostly shut the door in the red zone. DL was unimpressive, but it’s not like the Cowboys’ O-Line is a bunch of slouchers. I’d be more confident in dominance with a better #2 CB and maybe MLB – but the guys we have out there now aren’t exactly bad, either. This is still a top five defense, as is.

Overall, based on the players we’ll actually SEE in the regular season, a fair performance against a good team on the road. I’d like to see a little more punch next game from the passing offense, with the actual starters in there on both sides – it’ll give us more of a sense as to whether the passing game will actually be a weapon this year, or whether we’ll be dealing with PR speak after every game when questions are asked about the problems in the passing game.

Nice TD by Collins, but he was looking a little too much like 2007 KC out there. Show us something next game, guys.

I saw nothing this game from the REAL players that makes me believe it won’t be competing for the postseason.

The cowboys left their starters in all the first half

Is it concerning? Yes. But real quick, how did we do in our second preseason game last year? I bet nobody else remembers off the top of their head either. Point being, preseason is very vanilla, things will be fine when the season starts.

The Titans are trying to get looks at their new receivers. Also, VY has seen significant action.

Once the season rolls around, the running game will be out of sight. Our linemen and CJ are just too good.

Our starting quarterback attempted 11 passes.

Their starting quarterback attempted 24.

PRESEASON. And you know ol’ Jer Jer told Phillips that his job depended on winning their first game in that stadium.