Scout’s Eye: Unsung Heroes On This Defense
Bryan Broaddus took a look through his notebook after the Cowboys' fifth practice and saw that a lot of the team's young talent has been making plays.
What a heck of a job by Anthony Brown in the Compete Drill going against Michael Gallup. It doesn't get any tougher than having to play coverage on a receiver without a pass rush. Gallup attempted to drive Brown off the ball, then break back underneath – but Brown was having none of it. When Dak Prescott let go of the ball, Brown was in better shape to catch it than Gallup was. As soon as Gallup extended his hands, Brown was able to place his off-hand right between his to knock it away.
I don't know how often you want your big-time receiver setting the edges on the toss sweep, but Kellen Moore doesn't believe it's an issue. Moore had Amari Cooper crack on Robert Quinn, and by gosh if he didn't take Quinn out of the play, allowing Tyron Smith and Connor Williams to get around the corner. Darius Jackson even got a block from Jamize Olawale for good measure. What also was impressive about the run was that Jackson was able to stiff arm Chidobe Awuzzie out of the way for extra yards. Moore came back in the same series and faked the crack toss and had Prescott throw a slant off it.
Jason Witten was called on by Jason Garrett to work one-on-one against Xavier Woods. This was used to be a matchup that we saw between Witten and Byron Jones, who waged some epic battles. Woods was giving up plenty of size to Witten, but he was determined to stay with him. Witten did a nice job of selling Woods on the outside move to swim him, but Woods' athletic ability saved him and he was able to rally back into position. Dak Prescott tried to fit the ball over the top of Woods into Witten but he was off the mark.
Nice little wrinkle by Kellen Moore to get Tony Pollard in coverage on Jaylon Smith. Moore started Pollard in the backfield and then motioned him out wide, which meant Smith had to carry him in space. It's not the most comfortable way for Smith to cover and it showed. Pollard was able to run by him, but Prescott put the ball toward the sideline as Pollard continued up the field. It was a well-designed play that just lacked finish.
This is a deep group of linebackers. A great example of that today was the interception that Justin March-Lillard made to get the defense off the field in the two-minute drill. March-Lillard was in a simple zone drop, just looking to react off Cooper Rush. Once Rush opened to his left, March-Lillard wasted no time breaking to the outside, where Donovan Olumba was in coverage on Jon'Vea Johnson. The ball hit Johnson directly in the hands but Olumba was able to contest the catch. As the ball was knocked loose, March-Lillard was driving in and scooped the ball out of the air with one hand before falling to the ground with it secured against his chest.
Christian Covington is a guy that I was looking forward to seeing once these pads came on. I can't begin to tell you how impressed I was with his work last season with the Houston Texans. Covington was one of those guys that can be disruptive when he gets in those one-on-one rushing situations. Covington was able to quickly get around Cody Wichmann and sack Mike White before he had a chance to get rid of the ball. Wichmann had been holding his own in camp, but Covington on this particular snap just flat embarrassed him.
The length of Chris Westry made all the difference in the world when he was able to knock the ball away from Jalen Guyton. It has been an impressive camp so far for Guyton, who has been catching everything in sight. He was able to get both hands on the ball and appeared to be securing it, but Westry wrapped up Guyton's arms and kept slapping at the ball. I really thought Guyton was going to come up with it, but it just wasn't the case. It was nice to see Westry make a play after stepping away from the team on personal business.
During "Training Camp Live," Ambar Garcia brought up the name of linebacker Luke Gifford and to keep an eye on him. Gifford had been playing special teams in a variety of roles, but he's starting to get more snaps on defense with the injury to Sean Lee. I have noticed him more with the second unit along with his normal snaps with the third group. Gifford appears to have the instincts for the position and a nose for the ball. He made a nice stop in the hole on Mike Weber when it appeared that the play had a chance for some big yards. Gifford worked through the trash, never slowing up as he found himself nose-to-nose with Weber. I am going with AG on this one, keep an eye on Luke Gifford.
