Cowboys Monday Morning After: Jaguars 28, Cowboys 23

Watching the 2023 rookie class and looking for clues

There is only one way to watch a preseason game.

Before I tell you what that is, allow me to tell how you aren’t supposed to watch.

It is not a normal game, where you expect the offense and the defense of your chosen side to play football against the other where outcomes or score matter.

You are not supposed to be looking for game-plans or strategies that give any inkling of the larger picture on the way to Week 1.

And you are DEFINITELY not supposed to be gambling on these games.

The actual teams only use preseason as a tool to evaluate talent and then get them over with. And if you doubt that, well, then you have never visited with these coaches when they are ready to confess.

Sure, down five points with five minutes to go, coaches may start working to get the ball back. But it has nothing to do with the win-loss result, it’s only an opportunity and scenario to challenge players before the game ends.

Aside from that, it’s all about evaluation for the fringes of the roster and staying healthy for everyone else.

We will treat such games the same way here at SturmStack. When the season starts we will flip the script and start examining game plans and tactics, but in the preseason, we are trying to assist the Cowboys in getting their roster trimmed and evaluated.

Typically, during August, this process entails dividing the roster into two distinct groups: those individuals whose roster spot was established prior to the commencement of camp, and those newcomers and peripheral players who are competing for the final few positions. Once this division is accomplished, we primarily allocate space to cataloging the new entrants, while the "returning lettermen" are relegated to a secondary focus in our notebook.

The initial preseason game serves primarily as an opportunity to scrutinize the draft class and take note of any undrafted rookies who displayed promise in this inaugural matchup. Therefore, without delving extensively into the game's result, let's direct our attention to the trio of key individuals I aimed to observe:

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RB - 42 Deuce Vaughn

Let's commence with the individual who has been generating incessant chatter. Admittedly, this might resemble indulging in dessert prior to consuming the main course and vegetables, but such liberties are permitted in this context. If my foremost source of anticipation for this match was witnessing Vaughn in action, donned in a Cowboys uniform.

The 21-year old was the Cowboys sixth-round pick at No. 212 in the 2023 NFL Draft, which leaves us of two minds.

First, and this is genuine, after watching him destroy teams at the collegiate level, there is no question that he would have that ability in the NFL, regardless of size and comparable cases in NFL history. Those of us who delve into the intricacies of this game invariably find ourselves desiring a historical reference point to juxtapose against a newcomer. This allows us to delve into the mindset of decision-makers and establish a prospect's worth based on familiar attributes, especially when the majority of their offerings appear to originate from the realm of the "unknown."

Despite the frequent comparisons and the status of Kansas State legend Darren Sproles, there was a distinct difference – someone slightly taller, with a touch more weight, and a registered 4.47 time. Vaughn, who didn't participate in the combine's running drills, seemed to clock in around that same figure, albeit as a smaller and leaner player. However, football is all about learning from mistakes. Overlooking the fact that if defenders in the Big 12 struggle to catch him, the same might hold true in the NFL, would be a monumental oversight. Additionally, when considering alternative running backs, the absence of a suitable candidate apart from using Sproles as a reference point is hard to ignore. Could this indeed be the case?

However, there's another perspective that's influenced by discussions within the media—conversations held prior to last night—centering around debates about his potential inclusion on the team. If he does secure a spot, would it primarily be as a return specialist and an occasional unconventional option? The uncertainty surrounding his roster status leaves some questioning his likelihood of making the cut. This prompts a bewildered response: How is this even a question? It's almost as if I'm seeing a different reality. Yet, this ongoing discourse does prompt a moment of introspection, acknowledging the influence of collective thought. Perhaps my optimism is slightly excessive?

We needed to see game action. We needed to see it against NFL defenders – at least what the preseason would offer – to see what it looks like.

Here are the four plays that got me fired up. He had 11 touches but these are the ones that we will talk about.

Note: If you click on each play, you will see 3-dots on the right and there you should be able to adjust the “playback speed” to crank it back to slow-motion. It will help you see what is happening on each play.

12 personnel with 86-Schoonmaker and 49-Stephens as the two attached tight ends on the right. This looks like inside zone and Vaughn starts middle, but he heads right between those two TE’s who have both secured D-gap. We were told Schoon was going to be strong at the point of attack and we see it here. From there, the burst from Vaughn is so impressive and you see things at the 2nd and 3rd level materialize. That includes a deep safety who barely gets a hand on him. This was awfully close to a TD and shows all the reasons why he doesn’t need much of a seam.

This one is just crazy. The center 67-Hoffman loses immediately. This sends Vaughn back to the left because he is looking at a massive DT in his face, but he is running straight at an untouched safety - 40-Erick Hallett - who has him locked in. But Vaughn is so good in these phone booth areas that he breaks like Barry Sanders and spins around the safety and into open space. He then has to deal with a run support corner - 34-Gregory Junior - and he slips him and falls ahead. I know this is not a run that looks gaudy on the stat sheet, but holy heck. This is special.

This play needed to be a touchdown, and that’s on the QB. Will Grier simply missed the throw. Third down and 3, but at least they converted the first down…. but look at how easily Vaughn uncovers on a Texas route and he could have walked in. Wide open!

Classic case of a bad throw ruining an easy play.

That passing play set up this touchdown. Let’s credit 72-Alex Taylor for a fine cave-in block at RT and once Vaughn sees a little space, its a darting burst to the goal-line and an easy score. That edge player had no chance to recover and tackle the tiny ball carrier.

What we saw on Saturday from Vaughn tells me that he is a NFL running back and concerns about things like pass protection are overblown. His pass protection power is his weaponry. If someone wants to blitz at Deuce, I am getting him to the flat and the ball gets to him before you can get to Dak. That will back the blitz off quickly as Vaughn is loose in your secondary.

Let’s move on.

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DT - 58 Mazi Smith

Alright, on to the first-round pick from Michigan who is supposed to be a difference maker at DT. It’s also the first time the Cowboys have drafted a defensive tackle in the first round since Russell Maryland back in 1991.

The typical issue with taking a DT this high is that we can often get run stuffers in later rounds. You would only take a DT at this spot if you truly believed he also has pass-rush ability and a chance to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. It didn’t happen much at Michigan, and based off his first pre-season action, it’s still a mix of good and average with Smith.

First, we see him lined up early as a 3-technique who then catches a guard-tackle double team, where they succeed at caving Smith in on the inside. There is no shame in having two 300-pound guys beat you — but this will also be common battle Smith has to endure, embrace the double-teams so others can thrive in clean air.

On that play it was Auburn rookie Tank Bigsby with the ball and once he got outside, Dallas was out-flanked, badly. The LBs all sucked inside, were stuck and then outside contain players were tied up, too.

Since we are here, I thought I would point out the sixth-round rookie corner, 37-Eric Scott. Not saying this is an easy angle, but I am saying that the knock on Scott about his 40-time of 4.72, which he ran despite a pulled quad muscle, may be more justified than the Cowboys want to admit.

The Cowboys have raved about Scott for months, but he was struggling here and needed the safety, 36-Sheldrick Redwine, to help him get Bigsby down.

Now, here is what we need to see from Mazi. He jolts the RG with violence and tosses him into the path of the runner. He doesn’t statistical get credit for the play here, but it’s easy to see on film who destroyed this run.

Strong hands and a good get-off, which, by the way, is something the Cowboys continue to work on with Smith. He needs to be quicker at the snap, too often he’s late to engage.

This is another great snap from Smith. This time, he is at the 3-tech on the right which is on the outside shoulder of the LG. He has a towel out of his waist to help you spot him. They try the guard-tackle double, but this time he stands his ground and not only stands tall, but also ends up making the play himself with a strong finish. Very impressive stuff, big fella!

One last snap for Smith and again you can see they want the run to be right at him. He swallows it up and builds a wall. The run goes nowhere and he, again, has done his thankless job.

So, given these snaps, we should be pleased with where he is at. But, I don’t want to lower the bar that he is simply a huge road bump. To be worth anything close to the No. 26 pick, we will need to see him grow into a three-down player who can help against the passing game.

Otherwise you overpaid.

That said, patience is a virtue.

One more and we will get you on with your day:

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LB - 35 DeMarvion Overshown

The last player I wanted to look at from the rookie class is the Texas-ex Overshown. The reason for these three, of course, is the role we expect they will each have right immediately in 2023. Luke Schoonmaker is expected to have a big role, too, but I want to wait until he is getting snaps before we evaluate his progress.

Overshown, though, has a chance to quickly be a big part of the linebacker core and will have some special packages right off the bat.

This first play was just wonderful on 3rd-and-short. He needed to mirror the RB, meet him at the spot, put his shoulder right into him, and drove him back short of the line to gain. This is great work, because he has to work through traffic and avoid the Jacksonville TE who is supposed to block him.

Overshown showed a real nice instinct here.

This snap was not as good, he was unable to shed his block, but you can see that Overshown can run like a safety with good size. He is about 230 pounds, we believe, which isn’t huge, but it also isn’t a safety. It is somewhere in between and even on this play where he will want to have done better, you get an idea about his seek-and-destroy disposition. He is not without mistake or weakness, but at LB you will live with aggressiveness even if it leads to some over-pursuit.

I included this because it is life in the NFL. Here Overshown is playing the WILL and with a pitch out, he is chasing from the weakside. Then the rudeness of the right tackle to just toss him to the ground is inappropriate.

Legal, but rude.

Then, look at this beauty. This is great work jumping in, working around the blocker, and making the play himself. Love to see this. Great work.

Finally, a great test for a rookie LB is dealing in pass defense with a RB screen. They know you are out there by yourself with two untouched linemen running at you. Does he take it on and still get in on the play? Does he let someone else handle it? I think Overshown demonstrated he has the chops for this job with the film he put out on Saturday.

Far from perfect, but plenty exciting and capable so far.

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There you have it. Three key players who were added in the draft and they all put really solid snaps on film on Saturday. Again, the outcome of this game will be forgotten soon, but the impact of these three and the rest of this rookie class can be felt for years to come.

Overall, very good stuff.