The Dallas Cowboys fell to 0-2 in preseason after their loss to the Seahawks on Saturday. Unfortunately, the team's performance was overshadowed by the season-ending ACL injury to DeMarvion Overshown, who was primed to have a big role on defense and special teams as a rookie.
Additionally, promising UDFA tight end John Stephens Jr. is out for the year with a torn ACL. The former wide receiver was making a strong charge for a roster spot amid a strong training camp and preseason.
It's gutting news for two promising young players, but the show must go on.
The Cowboys still played a football game this weekend and there are plenty of things we learned, both in terms of position battles and players' outlooks for the upcoming season.
3. Sam Williams can reach double-digit sacks in 2023
Williams played like a man possessed against the Seahawks after a surprisingly quiet preseason opener. Speed is largely pegged as Williams' calling card as a pass rusher, but he flashed excellent lower-body strength to power his way into the backfield for a third down sack of Geno Smith.
The 2022 second-round pick finished with two tackles and the aforementioned sack, but he was active at the line of scrimmage while he was out there.
Williams did commit a killer roughing the passer penalty that set the stage for a Seahawks touchdown. Perhaps the young DE was playing with too much energy, but it was more of an accidental hit than anything else.
The main takeaway is Williams is primed for a breakout year after he produced four sacks, 10 tackles for loss and nine QB hits as a rookie.
In terms of raw talent and ability to make splash plays, he should be third in the DE pecking order behind Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence -- even if he lacks the experience and versatility of veterans Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler -- and should contend for double-digit sacks in year two.
2. Rico Dowdle is RB2
As much as Cowboys fans want Deuce Vaughn to be RB2, Saturday's loss proved once and for all that's Dowdle's job. Though Dowdle fumbled in the first preseason game, he was still the better back relative to Malik Davis.
That continued vs the Seahawks, as Dowdle outproduced Davis yet again.
Not only that, but Dowdle's punishing running style caused headaches for the defense. He hit the hole with venom and showed tremendous strength and contact balance by carrying defenders to move the chains.
Simply put, Dowdle looks the part of a complete backup. He can double as Ezekiel Elliott's replacement in short-yardage situations -- and in pass protection -- but he's also capable of making defenders miss in the open field with his quick burst and shiftiness.
No other back on the roster boasts that kind of versatility.
1. Mazi Smith's impact in year one might not be profound
Saturday night was one to forget for Smith, who was routinely driven off the ball. The 2023 first-round pick acknowledged that he's working to become faster off the ball, but his footwork and balance let him down against the Seahawks, largely because he was late off the snap.
That's a death sentence for a first-year interior defender, and Smith ended up on his backside on multiple snaps as a result. This allowed Seattle's offensive line to creative massive running lanes and they rushed 31 times as a team for 141 yards (4.3 YPC) and two touchdowns.
Smith himself was at fault for a big run from Zach Charbonnet.
The Michigan product is a physical specimen and might be the strongest player on the roster, but he's learning he can't solely rely on strength to plug gaps. He's only going to improve with more reps, but fans should probably temper expectations for the touted first-rounder, especially early in the season.
It's important to remember that DTs don't always translate quickly. There's no reason to panic, but Saturday's loss proved that Smith is experiencing growing pains and it might take some time before he becomes the impact defender many pegged him to be once he was drafted.