Although the points weren’t abundant, there were many takeaways to recap from the Cowboys vs. Cardinals preseason game on Friday [August 13]. Neither starting quarterback played a snap in the game, and both defenses popped against struggling offensive lines. Arizona practices on Dallas’ field, so the play wasn’t the only thing sloppy about this game.
Garrett Gilbert is the Cowboys’ QB2
The offensive line was a struggle at times during the Cowboys vs. Cardinals game. Yet, Gilbert looked better in his second preseason outing despite the struggles snapping the ball from the Cowboys’ starting guard and backup center, Connor Williams.
Gilbert is not an ideal option as Dak Prescott’s backup. He is still slightly heavy-footed, and he certainly doesn’t run the offense anywhere near Prescott’s level. Gilbert still doesn’t look “good” out there, but neither Cooper Rush nor Ben DiNucci gives us more confidence.
He only completed 7 of 16 passes for 80 yards, but a few drops and broken plays led to the poor completion percentage. Overall, Gilbert looked poised in the pocket and generally accurate on his throws. He made a very nice drop in the bucket to Cedrick Wilson deep along the right sideline.
Micah Parsons could be special
The moans and groans of taking an off-ball linebacker with the 12th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft pick have subsided. Parsons looks even more like the real deal than Cowboys fans could have realistically hoped for.
It’s not every day you find a 6-foot-3, 245-pound linebacker running a sub 4.4 40-yard dash. It’s even rarer for that player to actually play at that speed. Parsons seems hungry for football after opting out of the 2020 college football season. Furthermore, he wasn’t happy with only getting 11 snaps in the Hall of Fame Game.
Only Dorance Armstrong was more active than the rookie linebacker on Friday night. Parsons already appears to be the best linebacker out of a group that includes Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, and Keanu Neal by a non-negligible margin.
It’s easy to tell when Parsons is on the field. He moves at a different speed than the rest of the players do. Parsons may become even more valuable after defensive tackle Neville Gallimore went down with an injury.
Rondale Moore looked good for the Cardinals
Well, sort of. As a player, his traits and tape deserved a much higher draft selection. Injuries are why the athletic freak was still on the board when the Cardinals picked in Round 2.
However, a 5-foot-9 receiver cannot wear No. 85. It’s a slow receiver number, and Moore is one of the most explosive athletes in the entire league. It’s a rough start to what once looked like a promising NFL career.
Jokes aside, he was a perfect fit for the Cardinals’ horizontally-focused attack. Arizona can also use Moore in the run game. He had 2 rushes for 16 yards in his first preseason action, along with 3 receptions. He didn’t generate a massive gain, but his ability after the catch and in space makes him a threat to do so with every touch.
His development as a route runner will secure his spot on an Arizona depth chart featuring DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green, Christian Kirk, and Andy Isabella.
Dalton Miller is the Lead NFL Analyst for Pro Football Network. Dalton is a masochist, so naturally, he likes to golf and play video games like Call of Duty. To yell at him for his other work on the site, you can find his writing here, and his voice and face on Pro Football Network Daily. Follow him on Twitch and Twitter @daltonbmiller.