The season isn’t decided in the week one of the preseason, and the Cowboys should be grateful for that. As the Rams won 31-21, what stood out was the quick 14-0 start for LA that would leave Dallas with only 6 offensive plays (all throws) and 1 yard gained.
Coach Schottenheimer was displeased with his inability to get a rhythm going. He believes momentum is an important part of winning NFL games. The team needs to do better winning first and second down.
Though to start the game, the playcalling focused on getting Joe Milton arm going, and letting him sling the ball around. Mostly sailing it over the receivers heads.
It wasn’t until the third drive where Milton kept the ball on a read option followed by a Deuce Vaughn first down, now the Cowboys had some momentum.
Though they found themselves into a 3rd and forever, Schottenheimer called the bomb, Johnathan Mingo beat his man downfield and forced a pass interference for a big first down. Though we wouldn’t get all of those yards because Ceedee Lamb got a little too excited for the play.
The Cowboys fell behind early but had an opportunity to keep the game close as they went into the half down 8 points. They turned it over to open the 2nd half. Failed to capitalize on Israel Mukuamu’s interception, as the punted immediately after.
Milton found Rivaldo Fairweather for his first TD pass as a Cowboy, got the two-point conversion and cut the lead to 10. Dallas would give up a quick 5 play TD drive the next possession.
“Our guys need to understand how to maximize those opportunities because so much can be gained from swings and momentum.” Schottenheimer told the media.
Overall the Cowboys looked like a team that was out coached, and with a rookie staff going against the brains of Sean McVay, you will never win that battle. They had 6 presnap penalties, self inflicted wounds as Schottenheimer called them earlier in camp, he also mentioned those were unacceptable for this team.
“its awful, and we will not allow that to happen.” When asked about what happens when players continuously commit those fouls, “we won’t play you.” A problem that is not unfamiliar with the Cowboys, always needing to clean up the penalties.
There were a few other times where late substitutions and confusion arose. Cowboys had to take a delay of game on a FG attempt because a player didn’t know he was supposed to be on FG unit ran into the game with under 5 seconds left in the play clock.
As the Cowboys will finish their time in Oxnard with two more padded practices Tuesday and Wednesday. They will do one last walkthrough Thursday and get on the plane to come home to The Star in Frisco. The Cowboys will have a home preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday the 16th @7pm.
Brett's Cowboys Corner 
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