GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Dallas Cowboys held out 29 players against the Arizona Cardinals and won 34-13. They are 2-0 in the preseason and have allowed 20 points across two games.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said the two depth charts are worth putting side by side, and that the reps the reserves are getting will decide the cuts.
“We can all do the assignment and put the two depth charts down next to each other, last year this time and today this time. And taking nothing away from our football team last year, we’re more talented on paper and really excited about the defense and the way they’re playing,” Schottenheimer said. “And you sit 29 guys and you’re still able to do what we’re able to do. You’re getting those guys invaluable reps to help us make these decisions. It will be very tough decisions.”
Dallas finished 7-9-1 last season. The defense allowed 511 points, the most in the NFL, and ranked 30th in total yards allowed. The offense scored 471 points, seventh, and gained 6,663 yards, second.
Christian Parker took over as defensive coordinator this offseason and brought in an almost entirely new defensive staff.
Against Arizona, that unit allowed 325 yards and one touchdown, held the Cardinals to 4-of-10 on third down and 0-of-1 on fourth, and stopped two of three red zone trips. A week earlier at Seattle, Dallas allowed 156 yards on 52 plays, an average of 3.0 per play, in a 17-7 win.
Who Did Not Dress
Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, KaVontae Turpin, Jake Ferguson, Tyler Smith, Caleb Downs, Von Miller, Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams, DeMarvion Overshown, Donovan Ezeiruaku, DaRon Bland, and Javonte Williams were all in the group that did not dress. So were Tyler Guyton, Terence Steele, Cooper Beebe, and Tyler Booker off the offensive line.
The players who did dress were playing for a roster spot, and Schottenheimer said that was the point.
“This group of guys, we sat, I think, 29 guys, weren’t dressed tonight. These guys that played were playing for something,” Schottenheimer explained. “They want to be part of this family. They want to be part of the star, the brand.”
The question that prompted the answer was whether a last game before heading home carries a last-day-of-school feeling.
“I didn’t think these guys would have any letup,” Schottenheimer added.
Dallas returns to Frisco this week for the first time since camp opened in Oxnard, California.
The Play Style Line
Schottenheimer has used the same three words for two straight weeks. He said the record itself will not be remembered, a line he got from his father.
“The wins are great. I’ve always thought, because my dad said it, the preseason record is never remembered,” Schottenheimer said. “But I think what we’ve shown the last two games is there’s a play style about this team, whoever’s in the game, and that’s one of physicality, effort, playing together, and I do think that we played that way tonight for really four quarters, and I’m proud of the guys for that.”
Marty Schottenheimer coached 21 seasons as an NFL head coach with Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and San Diego.
Dallas outgained Arizona 413 to 325 and averaged 7.1 yards per offensive play to the Cardinals’ 5.6. The Cowboys were flagged four times for 20 yards. Arizona was flagged eight times for 63.
Better Than When Camp Opened
Asked directly whether this is a better football team than the one that reported in July, Schottenheimer said it is.
“I think so. Yeah, I do. And I think we’re finding out a lot about our team. We’re finding out some guys have moved in a good way. And not a lot of guys have moved in a bad way,” Schottenheimer said. “They’ve maybe been passed up by guys that have taken the next step and done really, really well. So usually when you have advancement in some position groups and not a lot of decline, that means you get better.”
Dallas cuts to 53 players after Friday’s preseason finale. The Cowboys host the New Orleans Saints at 7 p.m. CT at AT&T Stadium, and the game airs on CBS 11 and ESPN. The regular season opens Sept. 13 against the New York Giants.
