5 things to watch....
1. What will the Cowboys do with their beaten up offensive line?
The Cowboys find themselves without several starters for this preseason matchup. Tyron Smith suffered a strained right bicep in practice last week and Zack Martin suffered a stinger in a joint practice with the St. Louis Rams this week. Those were not the only offensive linemen out of action this week, Ronald Leary needed to get an MRI on his back due to what can only be described as continued back spasms. This all brings rookie La'El Collins to the forefront. Collins was expected to eventually replace Ronald Leary however that time has come sooner than previously thought.
2. Which running backs will the Cowboys utilize the most?
With Darren McFadden returning from injury how can the Cowboys possibly hope to give him meaningful reps in the 2nd preseason game? McFadden has been dealing with hamstring issues all camp and this is why the Cowboys have signed two undrafted free agent running backs in Ben Malena and Michael Hill. Expect the young players to get a lot of work instead of the injury prone veteran.
3. Will rookie Jarryd Hayne be able to establish himself in the 49ers offense?
On the other side of the ball another rookie is pushing his way to the front of the offensive pack. Former rugby player, Jarryd Hayne has a punishing run style. He can hit the hole fast and make plays better than some other running backs ahead of him on the depth chart. His versatility as a rusher could give him the edge heading into the regular season.
4. Can Torrey Smith and Colin Kaepernick find their chemistry?
In training camp Kaepernick has found it difficult to connect with Smith on deep throws, this is likely because the 49ers franchise quarterback has yet to have as fast of a target as Smith. Smith is a dynamic playmaker that can burn teams with his speed, and quick cuts to the ball, but the 49ers have yet to fully test that against any actual competition. In their second preseason game the 49ers will get that opportunity against a revamped Cowboy's secondary.
5. Who will end up being the Cowboys backup quarterback?
The Cowboys will need to make a decision on what quarterbacks to keep on the roster this upcoming season and an unlikely competitor is fighting for a backup role. Jameill Showers has been surprisingly effective as a backup quarterback and has shown amazing mobility in and outside of the pocket. Dustin Vaughn the Cowboy's 3rd string backup has been less memorable struggling to score touchdowns in practice and preseason games. Vaughn has excelled in short to intermediate passing however that might not be enough to keep his spot secure. Brandon Weeden is the primary backup however has already shown an inability to get it done in the regular season. Last season he blew a chance to lead the Cowboys to victory against the Arizona Cardinals. Weeden has looked more accurate and has a more polished throwing motion than a year ago. Which quarterback the Cowboys go with will not be set in stone but the competition could heat up with another good performance from Showers.
