It’s exciting to have Dallas Cowboys football back, but their first preseason game was far from thrilling to watch. Despite some positive aspects, Trey Lance performance is the main topic of discussion, and not because he dominated the Rams’ defense.
Trey Lance blew it in Cowboys Preseason Opener
Trey Lance was expected to play extensively in the preseason. He took over from Cooper Rush after one drive and ended up with the most snaps of any Cowboy, totaling 65, according to Pro Football Focus.
The 24-year-old made an impact with his running, gaining 44 yards on six carries. However, his passing skills seemed unpolished. While his arm strength was apparent, and he made a few impressive throws, his accuracy, timing, and vision were reminiscent of a mid-round rookie. Nothing came easily, which says a lot considering he was facing the Rams’ backup players.
Mike McCarthy has praised Lance throughout the offseason. However, after the quarterback’s challenging preseason debut, McCarthy offered little beyond moral support.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was not impressed by Trey Lance’s preseason debut, saying, “Trying to get as much as I can with him,” via ESPN. “You want to see him running the offense at a high level. The footwork and some of the things we’re asking him to do conceptually are new. We just need work. We just need as much time as we can. I know I say that every time I talk about him, but he’s making good progress. He’s definitely wired the right way. He’s a great athlete. Just a lot of work to do.”
Mike McCarthy Didn’t Exactly Praise the Performance
While McCarthy praised Lance’s mental toughness and athleticism, he didn’t highlight any specific aspect of Lance’s Sunday performance. Even McCarthy realizes he keeps repeating that Lance needs more practice. Now that he’s getting those reps, Trey Lance still appears as inexperienced as he did in 2021 when he arrived in San Francisco as the third overall pick.
Lance managed to keep drives going against the Rams, but none ended in touchdowns. He completed 25 of 41 passes for 188 yards and was sacked three times, averaging 4.6 yards per attempt. For comparison, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (a rookie) had the lowest average in the NFL last season at 5.5 yards per attempt.
Trey Lance has only himself to blame for not scoring any touchdowns. He missed a wide-open tight end, Princeton Fan, in the fourth quarter. In the first quarter, he moved the Cowboys inside the Rams’ five-yard line but overthrew Jalen Cropper on a fourth-down fade route. He also overpowered a deep pass to Cam Johnson, who had a step on the defender. Additionally, Ryan Flournoy created five yards of separation on a slant route, but Lance failed to see him.
Is it possible Lance will connect on these passes after reviewing the film? Maybe, but expecting his vision and accuracy to improve overnight is unrealistic after Sunday’s game. There may not be enough preseason reps for McCarthy to help Lance make significant progress.
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