Cowboys Risers And Fallers From Week 1 Of The Preseason Against The Rams

By Tom Downey August 15, 2017
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The Dallas Cowboys lost 13-10 to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1 of the NFL Preseason, but it's not the end result that matters at this point. Rather, it's far more important to see how individual players fared. The preseason games are critical for young players, rookies and those battling for starting jobs and roster spots. With that in mind, here are six risers and four fallers from the Cowboys' week 1 preseason game against the Rams. They're in no particular order. 

Risers

S Xavier Woods
Woods didn't play much in the Hall of Fame game and certainly didn't make an impact. That was not the case against the Rams, as Woods shined. He had six solo tackles and forced a fumble that was later overturned. 

Fellow safety Kavon Frazier also fared well, but Woods was perhaps the most impressive player on the defense last night. If Woods keeps this up, the Cowboys will have a spot for him on the 53-man roster. 

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TE Rico Gathers
Another week, another strong game for Rico Gathers. His TD is embedded further below, but Gathers racked up four catches for 47 yards and a TD. Frankly, he's been the best receiver for the Cowboys this preseason. This play has all but locked up a roster spot, because there's no way the Cowboys can get him on the practice squad. In fact, his ability near the end zone might actually be enough to get him active for games.

With that said, Gathers still needs to be more fluid in his route running. His massive size makes things easier, but Gathers still has work to do. He also remains a huge work-in-progress as a blocker. That's he lines up as a slot WR over 25 percent of the time. There's still a lot of work to be done, but there's no doubt Gathers is trending upward. 

QB Cooper Rush
We'll get to the other two QBs who played later, but Cooper Rush easily looked the best of the three. He completed 9 of 11 passes for 104 yards and a TD. That touchdown was a perfect dime from Rush. 

I still don't think Rush will make the active roster, but he's a prime practice squad candidate. Maybe he can earn a spot as the No. 3, but he's not ready or good enough to be the No. 2. 

DE Lenny Jones
Jones, a 2016 UDFA from Nevada who played was on the Rams, Raiders and 49ers last year before signing a futures deal with Dallas, was not on my list of players to monitor this preseason. It appears I, along with many others, totally missed on Jones because he's look impressive. He made multiple plays against the Rams, even if they all don't show up in the box score. He had a sack and a pass deflection and is making an actual push to make the roster with a depleted front four. Also, a quick honorable mention to LB Joseph Jones, who has racked up a bunch of tackles thus far. 

DE Taco Charlton
Charlton struggled last week, but he was much better in Week 1. In fact, he even managed to record a sack. 

Yeah, it's terrible blocking from an OT named Pace Murphy that Charlton should abuse, but it's a good thing to see. Charlton won't be an instant 10-sack type of player, but he has the length to make plays like that. He's looked good against the run in both games and he's in line to see plenty of snaps for Dallas. An honorable mention to DT Lewis Neal, a UDFA who might make the roster, and DE Damontre Moore who has had two straight games of providing pressure. It's a shame he's suspended for the first two games. 

CB Duke Thomas 
The Cowboys didn't play any of their rookie CBs (Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis and Marquez White), which meant there was plenty of action for Duke Thomas. The second-year player was signed to a futures contract after missing his first year with the Houston Texans because of an injury, but he was all over the field against the Rams. He recovered the lone fumble the Cowboys managed to snag (the Rams lost the ball five times, somehow) and had five tackles. With White out, Thomas shined in the battle to be the potential No. 6 CB or at least secure a practice squad spot. 

Fallers

QB Kellen Moore
Last week, I listed Moore as a winner because he fared very well in the Hall of Fame Game. I'm not a big Moore fan because he has severe limitations on-the-field. I tweeted this during the game, but the Cowboys are doomed if Moore actually has to play. He was awful against the Rams completing 8 of 17 passes for just 69 yards. He has no arm strength, as shown below. 

His intelligence and ability to help game-plan basically makes him another coach. That's a valuable asset, but it's not enough to justify him as the No. 2 QB. Dallas must add another QB just in case Dak Prescott gets hurt. 

QB Luke McCown
Well we might as well discuss all three QBs who played. McCown was signed after Zac Dysert's injury and this was his first action as a Cowboy. Unfortunately for Dallas, he looked like a 36-year-old QB who is the lesser of the McCowns. He was 6 of 13 for just 31 yards. McCown is not going to be an effective replacement for Moore if that's the route the Cowboys were hoping to go. It's time to do something at the QB spot. 

WR Lance Lenoir
With Cole Beasley not playing, Ryan Switzer and Jourdan Lewis out with minor hamstring issues and Lucky Whitehead now in New York, the Cowboys turned to undrafted Western Illinois rookie Lance Lenoir as the team's punt returner to start the game. It didn't go well. 

Lenoir wasn't going to make the 53-man roster, but that's the type play that would have resulted in being among the first wave cuts if the NFL still did those in the preseason. It certainly doesn't help his slim chance of making a practice squad (be it with Dallas or elsewhere). 

OG Byron Bell
This might as well be any lineman not named Travis Frederick, Zack Martin or La'el Collins who played against the Rams. The offensive line clearly has a depth issue. Chaz Green is still out with (another) injury, so Bell got some action at left guard. He was awful, committed two penalties and his chances of making the roster don't look very good. Bell did his job and cut his 50 pounds to drop down to 310, but this was his chance to show he can be the starter at LG. He failed to do so and although he could still stick as a swing tackle, he's done nothing to inspire confidence. 

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Related Topics: Taco Charlton, Kellen Moore, Xavier Woods, Lenny Jones, Duke Thomas, Luke McCown, Cowboys Preseason Risers, Byron Bell, Lance Lenoir, Rico Gathers, Cowboys Rumors, Cooper Rush, Cowboys News, Cowboys Preseason Fallers

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