Cowboys’ defense provides spark against Dolphins
ARLINGTON The Dallas Cowboys’ defense isn’t a strength, but it might not be as much of a liability as some think going into the season.
The Cowboys’ flashed potential in the first half against the Miami Dolphins on Friday night, making a goal-line stand and creating a takeaway to set up a scoring chance late in the half.
Before either of those highlight drives, though, the defense opened by forcing a three-and-out by the Dolphins’ first-team offense. Defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford delivered the pivotal play on third down, sacking Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill for a 4-yard loss.
Each of those guys on the front did a nice job getting off the ball and affecting the quarterback.
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett
assessing at halftime why the Cowboys’ defense had played wellOn the Dolphins’ second offensive drive, they had a first-and-goal from the 4 and couldn’t convert. Safety Byron Jones broke up the first pass attempt by Tannehill, and then Jones, along with safety Jeff Heath, made a stop on a run by Arian Foster.
Tannehill and Jarvis Landry couldn’t connect on a third-down pass play with cornerback Orlando Scandrick covering. Miami went for it on fourth-down and cornerback Morris Claiborne batted Tannehill’s pass away from Kenny Stills in the back of the end zone.
Tannehill and Stills did hook up on a couple of touchdowns on later drives, but the Cowboys’ defense responded. Defensive end Shaneil Jenkins came through for the second consecutive week, stripping the ball from Brandon Doughty late in the half to set up a field goal near the end of the half.
Those were all positives for a Cowboys defense littered with questions on their pass rush and ability to create takeaways.
“The defense has done a nice job putting pressure on the quarterback and playing downhill,” coach Jason Garrett said in quotes distributed at halftime. “It starts when you defend the run and put them in passing situations. Each of those guys on the front did a nice job getting off the ball and affecting the quarterback.”
And it is particularly important that players expected to make a positive impact on defense in the regular season, namely Crawford, Jones and Claiborne, had standout plays in the second preseason game.
Morris shines
Running back Alfred Morris doesn’t look like a bad option if Ezekiel Elliott or Darren McFadden aren’t available for some reason in the regular season.
Morris took full advantage of his start, rushing for 85 yards on 13 carries, including a 15-yard TD run, in the first half. He had a 20-yard TD run called back because of a penalty on offensive tackle Chaz Green.
Morris, who had 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2012-14, credited the Cowboys’ offensive line for his success.
“They did a great job of getting their guys and making a clear read for me,” Morris said. “It was easy for me to be patient because they kept them dead on the line of scrimmage. It makes it easy when our guys win at the line.”
Injury to Nzeocha
Second-year linebacker Mark Nzeocha left early in the second quarter with an Achilles injury, and didn’t return to game action. The extent of his injury wasn’t immediately known.
But it is a blow to a linebackers corps that has been thin throughout training camp. Nzeocha had received praise throughout camp and had a solid preseason debut, tying for the team lead with five tackles against the Los Angeles Rams.
Nzeocha missed most of last season rehabbing from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but returned late in the season and appeared in two games — against the Jets on Dec. 19 and in the season finale against the Redskins on Jan. 3.
Plenty of penalties
The Cowboys will have plenty to clean up when they watch the game film of the first half alone. They were charged with 10 penalties for 100 yards in the opening half and finished with 12 for 113 yards.
“The penalties, we need to clean up, but I thought our guys did a good job overcoming that,” Garrett said.
The Cowboys were flagged three times within the game’s first five plays for holding. Zack Martin, Terrance Williams and Doug Free were called, although Martin and Williams weren’t overly obvious in their infractions.
Other offensive penalties included a false start by center Travis Frederick, an illegal formation by left tackle Green that cost Morris another rushing TD and an offensive pass interference by receiver Brice Butler.
Defensively, linebacker Anthony Hitchens drew two penalties on one play — one for face mask and one for unnecessary roughness. Others included a roughing-the-passer penalty on defensive end Ryan Russell and unnecessary roughness penalties (on the same play) against defensive end Jenkins and cornerback Josh Thomas.
Drew Davison: 817-390-7760, @drewdavison
This story was originally published August 19, 2016 at 10:37 PM with the headline "Cowboys’ defense provides spark against Dolphins."