The Cowboys wrapped up their 2022 preseason by hosting the Seattle Seahawks on Friday night. With the roster needing to be finalized by Tuesday, this game served as the final audition for players to stake their claim as a piece of the team’s 53-man roster or hopefully a role on this team’s practice squad. There was a lot to make of this game, and many different mini storylines could prove crucial this season. But there were 5 in particular that I think will most impact this team moving forward.
Five takeaways from the Cowboys’ final preseason game
The Cowboys’ safeties are deep.
In my 22 years of life, I can’t say I’ve been excited about the Cowboys’ safety position many times. The last time I remember the Cowboys having above-average safety play was in 2007 when Ken Hamlin and Roy Williams patrolled the secondary. For the last decade, I can’t count the times I would witness Jeff Heath fly by a runner, miss a crucial tackle, or Xavier Woods get beaten like a drum on a deep ball. Believe me, though; these two are just the tip of the iceberg for the putrid safety play the Cowboys have had for the last decade.
But now I can confidently say the Cowboys are deep as anyone at the safety position. Starters Jayron Kearse and Malik Hooker are coming off impressive years that saw both get new contracts, and Donovan Wilson has been solid in the last two years he’s been on the field. Then in the preseason 2nd, year 7th round pick Isreal Mukuamu has been the team’s most impressive player having an interception in every game. UDFA’s Juanyeh Thomas and Markquesse Bell have also been fantastic in camp and the preseason. The latter of those two will most likely make the team, while Thomas will be an excellent practice squad guy. The combined three picks the safties had on Friday excited me, as you can probably tell by the mini dissertation I gave on the Cowboys’ safety position.
Josh Ball is not the answer at LT.
When Tyron Smith went down, Cowboys fans let out a collective sigh knowing that this team didn’t have a reliable plan B for the oft-injured 31-year-old. Josh Ball has been the starting LT the whole preseason, and he’s been bad. The game has looked too fast for him, and he’s not the answer at LT. We all know the Jones clan will not do a thing in acquiring serious help at the position. So I think the best option is to fill that hole with first-round rookie Tyler Smith. He was supposed to be the position’s future, but he may have to be the present now. 5th-round pick Matt Waletzko outplayed Ball, and even though Waletzko performed admirably, that should tell you that Josh Ball has been bad. Whoever ends up playing LT, we know that it shouldn’t be Josh Ball.
Cooper Rush is the team’s backup.
Many fans object to Cooper Rush being this team’s backup over the more talented and younger Will Grier. I agree with this sentiment to an extent, but after Rush only played a series in the team’s final preseason game, it is pretty fair to say that Rush will be this team’s backup. I think Grier will still make this team, but after Friday night, I can confidently say Cooper Rush will be this team’s backup this year.
Daron Bland will make this team.
Right now, Daron Bland will not only make this team, but he is also this team’s 4th best corner. This is impressive, considering this team is good at the position, and Bland is a first-year 5th-round corner. Bland got beat on a long TD last night, but he was excellent in coverage most of the night and was even better in run support. Bland was a bubble guy at the start of camp, but right now, he’s a lock to make the team. If Jourdan Lewis’s hamstring injury forces him to miss week one, there is a real shot the team will move Anthony Brown to the slot and Bland to the outside as starter against the Buccaneers.
Nashon Wright and Kelvin Joseph are disappointing so far.
2021 draft picks Nashon Wright, and Kelvin Joseph have been my biggest disappointments so far in the preseason. Wright had an interception and was slightly better against Seattle than in the first two games of the preseason, but he was still unsatisfactory. He whiffed on two runs to the outside and was called for a PI that I’ll admit was a little questionable. But he still got handsy and had bad technique at the end. Kelvin Joseph got hurt early in the first quarter and didn’t return, so he didn’t show much. But Joseph was supposed to solidify himself as the team’s 4th best corner, and he didn’t do that at all this preseason. Unfortunately, he got hurt, but Deron Bland has thoroughly outplayed both Joseph and Wright.
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