The Dallas Cowboys fell to the Denver Broncos at Mile-High, but what did the rookie class do during the game that stood out? Check out how each rookie played in the defeat.
OG Tyler Booker
(Game stats- Snaps: 74, Pass Blocks: 46, Pressures: 1, Sacks: 0, Penalties: 0)
In pass protection, Booker’s technique did the heavy lifting. He managed to stay stubborn inside, kept a sturdy base, and refused to turn his shoulders when Zach Allen tried to use his power against him. The right side sorted most of the traffic on stunts and Booker absorbed the penetrator and managed to re-fit to keep the B-gap shut. That kept the pocket intact for Dak from Bookers perspective although pressure came from elsewhere. Dallas yielded two sacks and Dak was, at times, running for his life. But for Booker, he allowed no sacks, quarterback hits, and only surrendered one pressure all day
On the ground, it was more grind than glide. Dallas logged 31 rushing attempts for 108 yards (3.5 YPC) and punched in two scores. Booker helped create those redzone scores and his double-teams had real pop near the goal line. Denver did manage to shrink the run with effective backside chases. This wasn’t a lanes open everywhere night, but when the offense needed stubborn yards, the right-side B-gap was sturdy enough to keep the play moving, and score a touchdown.
DE Donovan Ezeiruaku
(Game stats- Snaps: 32, Total Tackles: 1, Pressures: 3, Sacks: 0, TFL: 0)
Ezeiruaku showed up in Denver with a plan and the horsepower to run it. He varied his get-off, used his long arms to straighten the tackle, and kept his outside hip free so Bo Nix couldn’t scramble. On pressure downs he paired speed-to-power with a late inside counter, twice forcing hurried checkdowns.
It wasn’t spotless. Denver’s tempo caught Ezeiruaku leaning more than once, a high-pad level on an early rush led to losing leverage, and an over-pursuit on one play opened a cutback that should’ve been closed. There was also a near-miss in the fourth quarter where he won the corner but his arc was too deep and let Nix step up. Those are rookie issues.
CB Shavon Revel Jr.
Non-Football Injury list
RB Jaydon Blue
(Game stats- Snaps: 11, Rush Attempts: 7, Rush Yards: 29, Avg: 3.6, Fum: 1)
This one never got out of second gear for the rookie running back. Working behind the chains in Denver, Blue’s touches showed hesitation on inside runs, with not much daylight for him, and the back-breaker was a fumble in traffic that stalled a promising drive. The stats matched the general theme of his night, short gains, one big mistake, and looking unsure when he got to the line.
The fumble isn’t a new chapter for Blue, it’s an old issue resurfacing. Ball security trailed Blue out of the Texas Longhorns, and yesterday we saw that same issue reoccur. He entered the league with a checkered history of putting it the ball on the ground. On 214 career carries, Blue was tagged with eight fumbles. Let’s hope we don’t see the same issues raise its ugly head any further into the season after the big mistake in Denver.
LB Shemar James
(Game stats- Snaps: 60, Total Tackles: 4, Pressures: 0, Sacks: 0, TFL: 0)
Dropped in as the WILL, James did his best to match the Broncos’ intensity and find the running backs at the mesh point. On third down he showed veteran sense when he hit the B-gap the instant the back stayed in, forcing a hurried outlet, and kept Bo Nix from big scrambles. It wasn’t just speed, it was speed arranged with good timing.
There were rookie problems that showed up, but they can useful teaching tools. He took one angle too flat on a swing to RJ Harvey and gave up huge extra yards, he also bit a half step into hard play-action that opened a mid-level window, and overran a split-zone crease once when his speed outran his brakes. What was interesting is we did see him adjust mid-game. The same concepts looked tighter in the fourth quarter than they did in the first, but by then things had got out of hand for the Dallas defense.
OT Ajani Cornelius
Inactive
DT Jay Toia
Inactive
RB Phil Mafah
Injured reserve
WR Traeshon Holden
Practice squad
TE Rivaldo Fairweather
Practice squad
LB Justin Barron
Practice squad
DB Alijah Clark
(Game stats- Snaps: 33, Total Tackles: 6, PBU: 0)
When injuries stuck the Dallas defense, Clark was asked to moonlight at free safety, and the job got heavy fast. Early on he looked comfortable with a patient press, and a clean trigger on bubbles. Once he was made to stay deep, you saw the traits that got him on the field. Quick feet to midpoint routes, willingness to tackle, and a nose for screens that shut down free yards before they got rolling.
The rough stuff came with the new angles and landmarks. Playing top-down at free safety demanded perfect depth and timing, and Clark’s eyes drifted into the backfield on hard play-action more than once, leaving him late to overlap the deep window. A couple of pursuit paths from depth flattened out near the sideline, which is fine when you’re a nickel, but costly as the last line defender. He had one open-field finish where he slid high, gifting extra yards after contact.
CB Trikweze Bridges
(Game stats- Snaps: 48, Total Tackles: 4, PBU: 2, INT: 1)
The night actually opened with a jolt for Bridges who jumped on a short, errant pass and stole an early interception. It was a lucky pick, but the play showed some patient feet, good eyes to spot the ball coming, then a clean catch that he got up from and run upfield for seven yards. For a series or two, Nix kept testing elsewhere.
But once Denver started isolating him, Bridges looked every bit like a seventh-round corner learning at NFL speed. Reduced splits and vertical stems forced him to defend the entire side solo, and he had problems. He showed faults in his technique and timing, was late to find the ball at the catch point, which turned contested throws into easy finishes.
It was a tough game for Bridges after the interception with one splash play followed by another. The interception shows the instincts and hands are real, but allowing two touchdowns, seven receptions and over 100 receiving yards also shows that offensive coordinators feel confident with the results throwing his direction.
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