Cowboys preseason notes: KaVontae Turpin exhibits out, younger DBs impress
By David Helman
FOX Sports activities Dallas Cowboys Author
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — It is good to get a reminder that this may be enjoyable.
After a boring, laborious recreation final week in Denver, that is precisely what Saturday evening’s 32-18 victory at SoFi Stadium was for the Cowboys. It was enjoyable as hell.
No, this wasn’t regular-season soccer. Each the Chargers and Cowboys sat the vast majority of their starters in what amounted to an audition for every workforce’s youth.
However that is the purpose. Even when the backups are on the sector, it’s potential to play entertaining soccer and showcase some younger expertise within the course of.
Hopefully that pattern continues for the third and remaining exhibition recreation. For now, let’s get into what stood out in opposition to the Chargers.
Early Returns
It is normally harmful to imagine an excessive amount of from a preseason exhibiting, however we will dispense with warning on this occasion. KaVontae Turpin made this workforce Saturday evening.
If we’re being sincere, the speedy return man would possibly’ve already been a lock for the roster. However there is not any use debating that after Turpin stole the present with two return touchdowns in opposition to the Chargers. The primary was a beautiful instance of his straight-line velocity, as he rode his blocks by way of the muddle of the kickoff workforce for a 98-yard kick return rating.
The second was much more spectacular. Fielding a Los Angeles punt at his personal 14-yard line late within the second quarter, Turpin confirmed implausible imaginative and prescient and footwork to first dodge a tackler, then tiptoe his well past his first three blocks earlier than hitting the fuel close to his personal 30-yard line.
By the point he reached the tip zone eight seconds later, any questions on his future felt answered.
“Pace kills,” Turpin stated. “I took benefit of our blockers and the way in which they have been blocking. I simply felt prefer it was nice for our particular groups unit.”
It is a enjoyable story for one of many newest additions to this roster. Turpin signed with the Cowboys in the course of the first week of coaching camp, having simply completed the USFL season as that league’s MVP. That did not give him a ton of time to make a positive impression — however possessing game-breaking velocity can do wonders in that regard.
“Clearly, for my part, he was the very best participant I noticed within the USFL popping out,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy stated. “I have been so impressed with him since day one.”
With CeeDee Lamb getting into the highest receiver position, the Cowboys entered coaching camp with out a clear-cut return man. With a full week remaining within the preseason, it seems to be like they’ve discovered him.
Well timed Reminder
Largely written off earlier this 12 months, Trysten Hill is refusing to make issues straightforward for anybody.
This was seen as a pivotal summer season for Hill, the younger defensive sort out who was drafted No. 58 general again in 2019. Accidents have prevented Hill from making the kind of impression the Cowboys envisioned up to now in his profession, and with so many younger defensive tackles on this roster, this coaching camp felt like an important time for Hill to both make his mark or lose his roster spot.
Saturday evening was the most important indication but that Hill is attempting to do the previous. Doing the majority of his work within the first half, he completed with three tackles and a sack. However to name it a sack would not do it justice, as Hill managed to bend previous his defender, into the pocket, swipe the ball out of Easton Stick’s arms and fall on it to set the Cowboys up contained in the Chargers’ pink zone.
“I simply want I might’ve picked it up and ran for the landing,” Hill stated.
It was the very best play of the previous month for a man who has flashed on loads of events throughout coaching camp. And he did not simply make splash performs, additionally drawing an offensive holding name that negated a 17-yard achieve.
“It feels good to see it come to fruition — realizing that it may work after which believing in it,” Hill stated.
On this case, it feels early to declare Hill a roster lock. His skillset is not fairly as distinctive as Turpin’s. However one other robust exhibiting emphasizes that it would be a mistake to put in writing him off, which additionally goes to indicate simply how onerous it will be for this teaching workers to trim down its defensive position.
Grier’s Debut
A groin harm delayed Will Grier‘s first recreation motion as a Cowboy final week, however Saturday lastly supplied a glimpse of the opposite member of the backup quarterback battle.
Grier practiced this week in opposition to the Chargers. And whereas Cooper Rush did begin his second consecutive preseason recreation, he ceded the sector to Grier within the second quarter, permitting the previous third-round decide to guide 5 possessions.
The outcomes primarily mimicked what Grier has proven in coaching camp up to now. He had a mean evening of 6-for-10 passing for 98 yards and a nine-yard scramble — nothing that is going to gentle the world on fireplace.
However the completions he did make stand out. His first throw of the evening was a brief bullet to Jake Ferguson, permitting the rookie tight finish to shake free and run for added yardage. He adopted that up by threading a third-and-5 throw to Simi Fehoko, beating a breaking defensive again to choose up 11 yards.
“Once I reduce it, I knew he did not have an opportunity of constructing it,” Grier stated. “I am not shy of slicing it, I am at all times going to attempt to make a throw down the sector. Tight-window throws, I feel it is vital on this league to get first downs and transfer the chains. I am not scared to make these throws.”
That has been the plain impression from watching Grier up to now. Initially of the fourth quarter, he lofted a back-shoulder ball to Brandon Smith, trusting the second-year receiver would come open if he turned his physique the appropriate manner. It labored completely, and the 32-yard completion was the Cowboys’ longest achieve of the evening, organising a subject objective.
Good luck determining if this implies something. Rush regarded like a non-factor within the backup quarterback race final preseason earlier than stealing the job from Garrett Gilbert on the eleventh hour. What seems to be like a hotly contested competitors might be something however, relying on who you ask.
On the very least, although, Grier is taking part in entertaining soccer and looking out poised whereas he does it. That would pay dividends as this job audition winds to an in depth.
Security Class
What a bizarre world we’re residing in. It is one factor that the Cowboys have themselves a strong security group, however even the backups look spectacular.
Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson did not a lot as sniff the sector at SoFi Stadium, which gave us an prolonged have a look at Israel Mukuamu and Markquese Bell. And did they ever impress.
Mukuamu, having fun with a powerful camp in his second season, made an impression early. Stick tried a deep shot in opposition to a Cowl 2 look on the fifth play of the sport for the Chargers. The ball was barely overthrown, which made it easy for Mukuamu to float towards the sideline and snag a simple interception.
“Simply taking part in with confidence proper now,” Mukuamu stated. “I actually perceive the scheme. It is my second 12 months in it, so I understanding making calls and getting individuals lined up.”
The interception is cool, however that final half is the vital bit. It is apparent from watching Mukuamu that defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is attempting to develop the teenager for Kearse’s position on this protection.
Kearse made his identify final 12 months by quarterbacking this scheme as a linebacker/security hybrid, taking part in equally nicely as a field security, a protection participant and a matchup instrument in opposition to tight ends. It stays to be seen if Mukuamu can do it as nicely, however he clearly has the required skillset. Along with the interception, he completed with two different cross breakups and 4 tackles — two of which got here on the line of scrimmage.
Bell deserves point out there, as nicely. He would not have fairly the identical size as Mukuamu, however the 6-2 hybrid participant completed with 5 tackles in his personal proper.
Quinn is on the lookout for size, versatility and a nostril for the soccer. Mukuamu and Bell have all three, they usually showcased it Saturday.
Kicker Test-In
Name this one a wash.
Lirim Hajrullahu and Brett Maher every acquired extra work than they did in Denver. They mixed for 5 complete kicks — one subject objective apiece and three mixed further factors. Hajrullahu linked on two further factors and a 35-yard subject objective. Maher hit two further factors and missed a subject objective, however that try was simply shy from 61 yards away. It feels a bit harsh to criticize the man for a near-miss from the emblem.
It’s fascinating that McCarthy opted for a two-point conversion after a second-quarter landing, denying a possibility at one other kick within the course of. Although that additionally looks like nitpicking.
Yet one more observe: It is fascinating to consider how kickoffs will have an effect on this battle. The 2 kickers mixed for six kickoffs. Maher is broadly thought to have the stronger leg, and he boomed all three of his makes an attempt by way of the tip zone. Two of Hajrullahu’s three kicks have been returned, although it is honest to notice that a kind of makes an attempt was backed up by an unlawful formation penalty.
Sure, there’s some irony to wrapping up a narrative about entertaining soccer by evaluating kickoff makes an attempt. But when the competitors feels shut, do not rule that out as an vital decision-maker.
David Helman covers the Dallas Cowboys for FOX Sports activities, offering perception and evaluation on the NFL’s most seen franchise. Previous to becoming a member of FOX, David spent 9 seasons masking the Cowboys for the workforce’s official web site, DallasCowboys.com. In 2018, he gained a regional Emmy for his position in producing “Dak Prescott: A Household Reunion” concerning the quarterback’s time at Mississippi State.
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