Dallas Cowboys Preseason: What we now know after the second game

Dallas Cowboys were incredibly potent on offense during the second preseason game. The team has grown tremendously after two preseason games.

The Dallas Cowboys just completed their second preseason game and they gave the NFL an extended look at their fourth round pick Dak Prescott. He played most of the first half and the beginning of the third quarter and was impressive throughout to say the least.

Quarterbacks

Prescott completed 12 out of 15 passes, gained 199 yards, two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Those numbers are wild! One of those rushing touchdowns was a gain of 20 yards and showed just how athletic Prescott really is. All of his touchdowns were beautifully thrown balls that were incredibly smooth.

In his first two preseason games, Prescott has a 158 passer rating. Of course, this is only the preseason. But that is still astonishingly high. Dak made it seem effortless to score with this Cowboys offense and he easily solidified his job as the top backup quarterback on this roster.

The 23-year old is one of the most productive players in the NFL during the 2016 preseason and has put the Cowboys as well as their fanbase’s collective mind at ease. Prescott was not the only quarterback to get some time in this early preseason game as Cowboys 36-year old starter Tony Romo began the game under center.

Romo went 4 of 5 for 49 yards but looked crisp and clean with his throws. He led the Cowboys on an extended drive that ended with running back Alfred Morris punching it into the end zone for his first touchdown as a Cowboy. Romo then put down his helmet and put on his baseball cap as Prescott took over.

Running Backs

The quarterbacks were not the only impressive factors of the Cowboys offense, the running attack was deadly and precise as Morris made some serious noise behind the best offensive line in the NFL. The former Washington Redskin running back gained 85 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown which pretty much cements his status as the backup running back on this roster.

Rookie running back Darius Jackson was also impressive as he showed quick precise cuts as he trucked defenders for big gains. Jackson would finish the game with 43 yards on 14 carries. Jackson should make this team now that he has shown an ability to make plays behind this offensive line.

Defense

On defense this Cowboys unit was surprisingly stout as they held the Dolphins to 14 points. They showed significant improvement since their showing against the Los Angeles Rams and actually had a couple of players who were productive for the second week in a row.

Former Denver Bronco defensive lineman Shaneil Jenkins recorded a sack that caused a fumble which led to another offensive possession for Dallas. Defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford and linebacker Kyle Wilber also recorded sacks in this preseason contest. Defensive tackle Cedric Thornton also recorded a fumble recovery as he showed tremendous awareness and the ability to generate pressure.

The secondary did not record an interception in this game but they did shut down the Dolphins wide receivers for most of the game. Rookie defensive back Jeremiah McKinnon was exposed several times in coverage but had some bright moments as well. It was clear cornerback Morris Claiborne had a serious chip on his shoulder as he routinely broke up passes.

Next: Five Dallas Cowboys whose Star is on the rise

The Cowboys looked very sharp on both sides of the ball as we march through the preseason. Their next contest will come against the Seattle Seahawks as they travel to the very unfriendly Centurylink field this Thursday. The game will be Dak Prescott’s biggest test to date as all eyes will be on the rookie sensation.