Scout’s Eye: Lewis’ INT; A New WR Standout?
With another preseason game already on the horizon, Bryan Broaddus is seeing some new contenders for playing time establishing themselves on the Cowboys' practice fields.
If there's a player that's seeing the field better than Chidobe Awuzie, I don't know who it is. You can count on him every practice to knock at least one or two passes down. It doesn't matter whether it's a long pass down the sideline or the one from Tuesday, where Reggie Davis ran a five-yard curl with the ball coming out quick. What has also been impressive about Awuzie's play has been the body control that's he's used to pull these plays off. He doesn't go through the receivers to make the play but instead he works around their shoulder, staying off of them and avoiding a possible flag.
First opportunity in camp that we got a look at the "Jumbo Joe" package. Joe Looney was filling in for a resting Travis Frederick, but he had to switch mid-stream from center to tight end. Looney and La'el Collins were able to cave down the right side of the line, which allowed Connor Williams and Xavier Su'a-Filo to pull to the outside and clean up the support. Tony Pollard went into the end zone untouched for the score.
Not a knee jerk statement, but I now see why Devin Smith was selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. The ability has always been there, but the health has not. As these young receivers fight and claw for every snap, Smith has taken those opportunities and has made the best of them. What I have been most impressed by with Smith's game has been his ability to adjust on the move. There is no question that he has the talent to separate, but I wasn't sure how well he could really track the ball. That hasn't been a problem at all. His vision and hand position have been outstanding, especially when he's had to deal with contested plays down the field. The kid continues to get noticed by the folks that I talk with.
Beautiful interception by Jourdan Lewis on a pass that Mike White had no business throwing. White made two reads to the right before coming back to his left. Instead of just firing the ball out the back of the end zone and living to fight another day, he made the decision to throw a reckless pass toward Reggie Davis. Lewis was in perfect position to make the play and went full extension for the ball. Davis tried to rally back to defend, but Lewis was able to get both hands on the ball to secure it for the turnover.
I thought there was something funny about the Dak Prescott throw up the sideline to Jamize Olawale during Blitz Period. I was wondering how Olawale got so open, but going back and digging a little more on the play, Jaylon Smith would have blasted Prescott for a sack. Smith came unblocked, and it appeared to me that the reason he was on Prescott so quickly was due to a lack of communication between Tony Pollard and the blockers on that right side. The offense had three men to block three, but there was some confusion once Smith and Anthony Brown blitzed. La'el Collins took Brown, which left Pollard on Smith -- but Pollard scatted out of the backfield, leaving no one on Smith.
I've been fortunate to see Jason Witten make some incredible receptions over his career, but the one he had during Run/Play Action period might have been one of his best. I don't believe that Witten even saw the ball when he came out of his break. It was as if he had a sense that Prescott threw it in his direction and just instinctively put his right hand in the air in hope that it was there. With Joe Thomas on his back, Witten somehow managed to cradle the ball with his right hand then get his left hand in position where he was able to secure it.
Sneaky job by Randall Cobb out of a bunch formation to get open for Dak Prescott near the goal line. I thought the play was well set when Kellen Moore sent Tony Pollard in motion to the side of the bunch, taking Jaylon Smith out of the hole. With both Reggie Davis and Jason Witten breaking to the inside, Cobb just circled behind them in the spot that Smith had vacated. Prescott did a nice job of quickly getting the ball to Cobb before Awuzie could close.
Give Taco Charlton some credit for staying home on the final play of Compete Period by not allowing Dak Prescott to fool him on the read-option. Prescott was banking that Charlton was going to fly down to the inside and chase the play fake to Tony Pollard. The play was set up well with Jason Witten in front as a blocker on the edge and in all likelihood Prescott would have walked in for the touchdown. But Charlton stayed square along the line of scrimmage and held his ground, tackling Prescott for no gain and saving the drill for the defense.
