The Cowboys needed a monumental comeback to get a victory against Atlanta and avoid the dreaded 0-2 start to the season. The football gods smiled down on them, and through some form of sorcery, they took down Atlanta. I think most Cowboys players and fans alike are still in shock. Not much started working until the third quarter, but it was enough. Two young Cowboys players were instrumental in the victory. Both will continue to have big roles in the offense moving forward.
CeeDee Lamb has his first 100-yard game as a pro
Expectations were high for the rookie from Oklahoma, and after a productive Week 1, he shined again in Week 2. In his first career game, Lamb received six targets and turned that into five receptions for 59 yards.
In Week 2, the game demanded more of an aggressive offense, and that led to nine targets for Lamb, resulting in six receptions for 106 yards. We knew Lamb had the ability to gain yards after the catch, and he’s showing that off through two games in the NFL. Just over half of his yards this season have been accrued after the catch.
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CeeDee Lamb posted a RAS score of 7.45 at the combine. Kent Lee Platte, the creator of the RAS metric, gives us an idea of how a player will perform in the NFL. It compares combine testing scores to give us a full idea of the ability of the player.
With his flying 20 score of 1.88, we knew Lamb would be able to make plays with his feet. He has shown that ability multiple times in his short NFL career so far. The Cowboys are going to find ways to put the ball in his hands and allow him to make plays. After just two games, a 1,000-yard season could be in the cards for the young man.
Dalton Schultz steps up
When Blake Jarwin went down with an ACL injury, the tight end position became a bit of a question mark for the Cowboys. On Sunday, Schultz got going early, posting his first catch on the Cowboys third drive with more than 10 minutes left to go in the first quarter.
The 15-yard reception was the start of a big day for Schultz, who was instrumental in the Cowboys victory. Schultz posted five receptions and a touchdown in the second half of the game. Prior to this season, Schultz had 13 career receptions yielding 122 yards. He should easily eclipse his career-best in every category in 2020.
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Dalton Schultz posted a RAS score of 7.11. Another middle of the pack score, but on Sunday, we saw some of his strong suits. At 6’5 and with a score of 8.37 on his 3-cone drill, Schultz is a big body that can move around. He was a safety blanket for Dak Prescott on Sunday. He was able to take a few short passes and pick up extra yardage to keep the chains moving. He was crucial to the Cowboys’ success especially, in early downs. Schultz posted six of his nine catches on first down.
This is just the beginning
This won’t be the last time young Cowboys players will be asked to step up. Trevon Diggs is still learning the ropes in the NFL as a corner, but his time will come soon. Make no mistake, this team has playoff aspirations.
In Week 2, the NFL landscape was marred by injuries all over the league. There will more than likely be multiple spots in the season that someone will need to step up for the Cowboys. Week 2 shows us that at least some of the young players were ready. Whose name will be called next?