By: Dwain Price, NDG Sports
With running back Ezekiel Elliott still holding out for a lucrative contract extension, the Dallas Cowboys opened preseason play last Saturday with a 17-9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
But owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys know rookie backup running back Tony Pollard is “capable” of holding up and carrying the rushing load if need be.
Prescott has a solid showing
Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ new-look offense under first-year offensive coordinator Kellen Moore racked up no touchdowns while producing 239 yards passing and 55 yards rushing on 18 attempts. Also, quarterback Dak Prescott only played the game’s opening drive, pushing the Cowboys 65 yards down the field in nine plays that culminated with a 25-yard field goal by Brett Mahar.
Prescott was 4-of-4 from the field for 23 yards, and even completed a pass – Prescott cradled if after it was batted into the air – to himself for four yards.
“I just wanted to show everybody I could catch, too,” Prescott said. “At that point, I figured it was time to get down. I showed off the hands, and I could get down and protect myself.”
Overall, Prescott was just glad the Cowboys were able to get out of the drudgery of training camp and test their skills against a viable opponent.
“It’s a first time to play somebody else,” he said. Obviously, we’ve had a lot of time, a lot of practices under our belts going against each other, but it’s a lot to learn from.
“The first preseason game it’s hard to just say from the first view at it, or sideline view at it, what needs to be done. But obviously, there’s a lot of things we’re going to be able to clean up and learn a lot from.”
For his part, Prescott wanted to stay in the game and play some more.
“That’s the only frustrating part is it’s a process to get ready for a game,” he said. “And you do, and you get your emotions and all of that set in and get that first drive under your belt, and you’re like it’s time to go and then you have to sit down.
“That’s part of it, though. It’s good to just get some reps from somebody other than our defense (in practice).”
Garrett pleased with the progress
While the final score wasn’t what Cowboys Nation expected, coach Jason Garrett walked away pleased with the play of his first unit on the opening drive.
“I thought we did a good job at the outset of the game,” Garrett said. “The offense got it first, drove it well.
“We bogged down a little bit down in the red zone and had to settle for the field goal, but it was good rhythm, it was a good mix there. I thought the tempo was good, the urgency was good – it was good to see those guys get out there. It was nice to see those guys get those reps, and we wanted to get them out after that.”
A fourth-round pick out of Memphis, Pollard rushed four times for 16 yards and was impressive along the way.
“I just like proving people wrong and showing my abilities,” Pollard said. “I’m just blessed that I have (an offensive) line the way that I do. I’m just glad I am where I am.”
While the Cowboys would obviously rather have Elliott back in the fold, they had high praise for Pollard.
“He’s a guy that wants to take advantage of this opportunity,” Prescott said of Pollard. “He’s `a special play.
“(Saturday) was nothing short of what he’s done all training camp long and he’s going to continue to get better.”
On the flip side, while the Cowboys’ defense was solid – Luke Gifford and Donovan Wilson collected interceptions — Mahar was 3-of-4 on field goals. That includes missing a very makeable 35-yarder.
In the battle for the backup quarterback spot, Cooper Rush was 16-of-26 for 142 yards, and two of his six drives netted the Cowboys field goals of 40 and 31 yards by Maher. On the other hand, Mike White was 9-of-20 for 87 yards and was sacked three times.
With their preseason opener finally in the books, the Cowboys will be back in action on Saturday when they play the Los Angeles Rams in Honolulu.
