INGLEWOOD, Calif. — New Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer opted to maintain the overwhelming majority of his key gamers in bubble wrap for his NFL head-coaching debut within the staff’s preseason opener on the Los Angeles Rams.
It actually seemed prefer it out on the sphere Saturday evening in a 31-21 defeat. Dallas could not have began out the evening any slower in the event that they tried. Defensively, the Cowboys surrendered two touchdowns, 9 first downs and 140 complete yards on the Rams’ first two drives of the sport. Sure, quite a few starters and key contributors did not play Saturday, however the full lack of execution by the depth gamers was a little bit worrisome. It could possibly be a sign that proprietor and normal supervisor Jerry Jones must make a transfer to bolster the depth at each defensive sort out and cornerback earlier than the NFL’s season opener on Sept. 4 on the Tremendous Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The Rams outgained the Cowboys 160-1 in complete yards on the finish of the primary quarter. Los Angeles picked up 10 first downs to Dallas’ zero as they raced out to a 14-0 benefit. Sure, Schottenheimer stated his Cowboys would “be taking part in with a 7 iron many of the preseason” and taking part in a really primary, vanilla model of soccer in order to not reveal who they’re schematically in his first 12 months in cost. Nevertheless, there is definitely a case to be made that Schottenheimer might need let the pendulum on that swing too far the opposite method.
“It is undoubtedly not a storybook starting, that is for positive,” Schottenheimer stated postgame. … “I feel [quarterback] Joe [Milton] was throwing some fastballs on the market early. I am happy with our guys the best way they settled down, however actually not the precise technique to begin the sport. That is what you do within the preseason, man. You study from it.”
Particularly noteworthy is who did not play on Saturday evening. First-round rookie proper guard Tyler Booker did not swimsuit up, and neither did Cooper Beebe, the 2024 third-round decide who’s getting into simply his second season as a full-time middle.
“There’s three video games for us, and so we had a selected plan going into this recreation of who he needed to play,” Schottenheimer stated. “There will be extra guys that play subsequent week. I am not going to let you know who, nevertheless it was extra about ‘hey, this was the rotation we needed to get this week.'”
Notable wholesome gamers not taking part in
Standouts
Cowboys backup quarterback Joe Milton’s play stood out, however within the sense that he was as inconsistent as a few of his extra uneven coaching camp practices.
Milton began sluggish, with three consecutive incompletions to start the sport, however he settled in on the Cowboys’ remaining drive of the primary half, connecting with large receiver Jalen Brooks a number of occasions. That led to Dallas settling for a 25-yard subject objective to finish the half. That duo created the most important play for Dallas’ offense of their Tuesday joint follow towards the Rams, a passing landing of over 60 yards.
He tried to duplicate his deep ball landing from the joint follow early within the second half, however this time his supposed goal was Ryan Flournoy. Additionally, Flournoy was blanketed in double protection. Milton’s throw was simply to the left of Flournoy, which allowed Los Angeles security Cam Lampkin to select his throw off.
“He is acquired a checkdown in entrance, extremely aggressive. He is shifting left, and threw it up there. He is trusting Flo in that state of affairs and making an attempt to make a play,” Schottenheimer stated. “I feel that that is one of many issues that when Joe watches, he’ll be like ‘yeah, I most likely ought to have taken the checkdown. I acquired moved off my launch level.’ Once more, that is why he must play.”
On the following possession, Cowboys fifth-year security Israel Mukuamu picked off Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett’s underthrown, 20-yard deep ball to large receiver Konata Mumpfield to negate Milton’s poorly executed gamble. That is an enormous deal for Mukuamu as somebody who’s competing for reps on the large open nickel nook spot following Jourdan Lewis‘ free company departure to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“Simply blessed,” Mukuamu stated postgame. “Been ready for this second. God put it on the market for me. … All reward to essentially the most excessive.”
Milton lastly led the Cowboys into the tip zone with 8:48 left to play by rifling the soccer to the again proper nook to hit undrafted tight finish Rivaldo Fairweather for a seven-yard landing. He adopted his scoring strike by hitting rookie wideout Josh Kelly for a two-point conversion in the course of the tip zone. That trimmed the deficit to 10, 24-14. Milton completed with 143 yards passing, one landing and one interception on 17 of 29 passing. He additionally ran for 22 yards on 5 carries.
“I do assume he settled down,” Schottenheimer stated. “I feel he discovered his rhythm, began utilizing his legs a little bit bit higher. Terrific expertise that each rep he will get goes to assist him grow to be an incredible professional.”
“I really feel like if I used to be grading myself, undoubtedly a D, most likely a D- if I am being arduous on myself Milton stated. … “I simply acquired to cool down early and simply make all these throws.”
Prime rookies
Second-round rookie edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku registered a quarterback hit on 9 cross rush snaps Saturday evening. A good outing in restricted publicity for school soccer’s No. 2 sack artist from 2024 (16.5 sacks at Boston Faculty final season).
Seventh-round rookie working again Phil Mafah subbed in for Deuce Vaughn off the bench, and he ripped off 14 yards on his first three carries. He completed with 36 yards on 10 carries.
“I believed Phila Mafah ran actually arduous,” Schottenheimer stated. “I believed that was good.”
Undrafted rookie large receiver Traeshon Holden did not enter the sport till the fourth quarter, however he completed because the Cowboys’ main receiver with 42 yards on two catches. His greatest play of the day was far and away his 35-yard acquire down the precise sideline on his second catch of the evening. Holden sprung himself large open for the simple reception.
“On daily basis, he makes a play,” Schottenheimer stated. “We type of noticed they have been taking part in some cloud to that aspect, some Cowl 2, and Joe made a stupendous throw into the opening shot. Traeshon has achieved that in each follow. Actually every single day. … Whenever you do this, you get observed and once you do this, you get extra alternatives. Simply happy with him, and … you will see him shifting up the depth chart.”
Who struggled
Nearly all the Dallas cornerbacks who took the sphere Saturday night early on at SoFi Stadium. Cornerback Robert Rochell acquired burned early, however Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett overthrew his supposed goal, and Rochell ended up being dominated out of the sport on the conclusion of the opening drive with a hamstring harm. Cornerback Andrew Sales space allowed Los Angeles second-year large receiver Xavier Smith to realize 39 yards on a vertical route deep down the left sideline on a fourth down on the opening drive. The 39-yard acquire was extra yards than Smith had in 15 video games performed as a rookie in 2024, six yards on two catches.
That play additionally arrange a first-and-goal on the 5, and the Rams ended up plunging into the tip zone just a few performs afterward a two-yard landing run by Los Angeles working again Blake Corum. Corum rumbled for touchdowns on every of the Rams’ first two drives and completed with 32 yards on 9 carries, together with the 2 scores.
The run protection, by a principally backup-led defensive unit, rode the battle bus as properly. Los Angeles completed with 181 yards dashing and two dashing touchdowns on 38 carries. That is 4.8 yards per carry. Actually lower than excellent for Matt Eberflus’ protection — despite the fact that it was a backup-led effort tonight.
All the roster mixed to battle with execution on the whole. Consecutive unlawful formation penalties stalled out the Dallas Cowboys’ first promising drive of the sport. Dallas ended the drive with 5 penalties in complete, two of which have been unlawful formation infractions towards offensive lineman Asim Richards. They settled for a 35-yard subject objective from kicker Brandon Aubrey. Los Angeles’ lead was lower to 14-3 with 8:04 left earlier than halftime. Dallas dedicated 11 penalties in complete, together with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on All-Professional large receiver CeeDee Lamb for standing on the white of the sideline, which induced an official to collide with him.
“I instructed the fellows ‘hey, we competed arduous, however we acquired to scrub some stuff up. We will not have the penalties, 11 penalties or no matter that was,” Schottenheimer stated. … “[Spoke with Lamb] Briefly. We acquired to be higher with self-discipline, and I feel I hope the man [the official] is OK. I feel he is OK, however we’ve to do higher than that. CeeDee is aware of higher. We all know higher. … We’ve got to do a greater job teaching and taking part in. … You may’t give away penalties on this league. So we’ve to be higher.”
