For the first time for the reason that 2019, NFL preseason football became played on Thursday night.
Though many of the groups' brightest stars did no longer see motion, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys nevertheless had masses of skills on middle stage. First-spherical novices Micah Parsons and Najee Harris made their debuts for Dallas and Pittsburgh, respectively, however it turned into veteran going for walks lower back Kalen Ballage who tallied the game-winning rating for the Steelers in a 16-3 win Thursday within the Hall of Fame Game.
1) The Cowboys struck gold with Micah Parsons. Even if it changed into as a substitute brief, the primary-spherical selection had pretty a debut, flying all over the discipline and entering into on the movement on nearly every snap he played. Parsons recorded 3 tackles, recovered a fumble, and continuously chased down ball companies irrespective of the region. Three tackles may not be all that stunning on paper, but the tape does no longer lie, and gave this writer the feeling he'd be headed towards 10 tackles before halftime. When looking Parsons live, it become impossible to miss No. 11. Just wait till he gets a full recreation's really worth of movement.
2) The Matt Canada era is underway in Pittsburgh, and it might lie to you. The Steelers rolled out the very beginnings of a new offense on Thursday night and proved rather quick just how novel it's miles. Plenty of movement preceded the snap and, on one event, such motion contributed to a botched snap, main to a fumble and Parsons recuperation. The Steelers' offense is absolutely novel to all of its employees, and it's going to take the time before they get acclimated sufficient to run it easily. Thursday changed into an incomplete pattern, of course, considering Ben Roethlisberger spent the game in a hoodie and baseball hat, and Pittsburgh's offensive line continues to be finding its footing. But if we discovered one aspect approximately the Steelers after they possess the ball, it's that they nonetheless want the weeks of exercise and preseason games in advance.
Three) We did not get an entire lot out of the reps from Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins, however if we had to select a takeaway, it's that the status quo stays authentic. Rudolph reaffirmed his greatest strength -- the deep ball -- whilst he linked with Chase Claypool for forty five yards, but didn't do a good deal else average. Haskins entered and seemed much like he did the last time he become on an NFL area in Washington, struggling to as it should be location passes and sailing one over the head of undrafted free agent Isaiah McKoy down the sideline simply shy of the quit region. Haskins enjoyed the benefit of a brief discipline (as did Joshua Dobbs within the fourth quarter) and was capable of get the Steelers into the end region, however failed to do an awful lot of some thing to alternate the contemporary notion of him.
Speaking of Claypool, his go out furnished the football global with its first scare of 2021. Inexplicably nevertheless playing within the 2nd region, Claypool stuck the aforementioned skip from Rudolph and came down on top of the ball, spending some time being attended to through running shoes before taking walks off. Rookie running lower back Najee Harris was additionally on the sector within the 2nd quarter before he become eliminated. With the Steelers nevertheless figuring out a new offense, it seems they have been first-class with leaving a few key men obtainable longer than common, however it wasn't without some hand-wringing at the a part of Steelers lovers looking.
Oh, and an advantage observe although it doesn't quite match in here, however merits to be referred to: The Steelers have located themselves a stud of a punter in Pressley Harvin III. He dropped his first punt on the Dallas 1, in which it bounced instantly up in the air and nearly adhered itself to the turf. A later punt went out of bounds on the Dallas eleven, in the end leading to a quick field and touchdown drive for Dobbs and the Steelers offense. And in the end, a fourth-sector Harvin punt became fumbled and recovered through Pittsburgh. It seems the Steelers may have observed their punting destiny with Harvin.
Four) Football is returned -- well, preseason football. Dallas and Pittsburgh each made their fair percentage of avoidable mistakes Thursday night time, that is common of multiple groups that have only practiced for a few weeks. The aforementioned pre-snap motion caused a botched snap from Pittsburgh, and the Cowboys had a area goal attempt blocked. Steelers kicker Sam Sloman overlooked a area purpose and PAT earlier than changing from 48 yards out, and Cowboys kicker Hunter Niswander ended the primary 1/2 with an unpleasant subject aim attempt. Quarterback Garrett Gilbert additionally fumbled within the crimson quarter after he took too lengthy to made a decision with the ball, main to a strip sack. Malik Turner caught a bypass for an extended final touch, then fumbled it away. Isaiah Buggs became flagged for an avoidable roughing the passer on an incomplete bypass all through a -minute drill. The list goes on. This is common of preseason football. But it is still football, and boy, are we glad it is lower back.
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