Yes, this game did matter, and so did Cowboys’ miscues
There is no such thing as a meaningless practice in the lexicon of Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett.
So there is no way in heck Garrett considered Thursday night’s 17-7 preseason opening loss to the San Diego Chargers a meaningless affair.
Never mind that the main objective was keeping their stars and most of their starters healthy.
Quarterback Tony Romo, tight end Jason Witten, running back Joseph Randle, offensive tackles Tyron Smith and Doug Free and linebacker Sean Lee were all healthy scratches and on the sideline to start the game to go along with an injured receiver Dez Bryant, cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Orlando Scandrick and defensive tackle Nick Hayden.
Still the Chargers game was the first step in the process of getting the Cowboys ready for the season as a team.
It’s going to take more than Romo and company if the Cowboys hope to make this season build on what they started last year and make this season super.
So, yes, Thursday night mattered.
It mattered how the Cowboys prepared. How they played and how they reacted.
Per a source, the Cowboys came into the game worried if they had worked the team too hard in practice, thinking they may be taking the field with a bunch of tired players.
But energy wasn’t a problem for a Cowboys team that is one of the youngest in the NFL and had already benched many of their elder statesmen.
The glaring issue against the Chargers was turnovers.
The Cowboys had two in the first half — a fumble by backup quarterback Brandon Weeden on a perfect shotgun snap from center Travis Frederick on the first drive of the game and a fumbled punt by rookie receiver Lucky Whitehead in the second quarter.
Taking care of the football is Line 1 in Garrett’s world, and those plays can’t be and won’t be dismissed.
“I thought the biggest things were the turnovers,” Garrett said. “We drove the ball pretty well. We had the ball for nine, 10 or 11 plays on that first drive, we make the big fourth down, then we snap the ball over the quarterback’s head and give them 40 yards on a turnover, then they go down and score.
“It certainly was the biggest play for the first unit. There were some positive things, but you have to take care of the football or you are not going to win in this league.”
The first one ruined what was a promising opening drive that saw Weeden complete 4 of 5 passes for 42 yards, including a 17-yard catch-and-run to receiver Terrance Williams.
A 1-yard run by rookie running back Gus Johnson on fourth-and-1 set the Cowboys up with a first down at the Chargers’ 32.
That’s when disaster struck.
A shotgun snap that was batted by Weeden completely flipped the field, with the Chargers’ taking over on the Cowboys 33-yard line.
San Diego needed just six plays to score.
Again Romo’s injury history and the dangers of the quarterback position mean the Cowboys are going to need Weeden at some point this season.
He was a disappointment in his one game in place of Romo last season — a 28-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cowboys attempted to replace Weeden in the off-season to no avail.
By all accounts, Weeden has been much better in training camp this year. And he certainly looked good early Thursday night.
Then came the fumbled snap that essentially offset all the good he had accomplished.
The Cowboys need to know they can count on Weeden if Romo goes down.
They need to know they trust him to take care of the ball.
That didn’t happen against the Chargers.
“I was going to throw the slant over to my right, and Travis [Frederick] snaps it back there pretty good,” Weeden said. “It just went through my hands. It was coming in pretty good, and I didn’t catch it. It was a disaster after that. I just need to make the catch.”
Whitehead’s turnover was disappointing because he has been of the bright spots of training camp and is being given every opportunity to win the job as the team’s primary punt returner.
The Cowboys are considering third receiver Cole Beasley for the job but they would rather Whitehead claim the spot that had been handled so well the last few seasons by the departed Dwayne Harris.
The play started as a Whitehead highlight. He ripped off 19 yards on the return before coughing up the ball.
Whitehead rebounded with a 38-yard kickoff return late in the second half.
But, again, it won’t offset the turnover.
If the Cowboys hope to make this season something special they need a backup quarterback and primary returner they can trust.
Clarence E. Hill Jr., 817-390-7760
This story was originally published August 13, 2015 at 11:20 PM with the headline "Yes, this game did matter, and so did Cowboys’ miscues."