No other player on the field mattered. Although four interceptions was an impressive feat, most eyes rested on #19–Trey Lance. Cowboys fans were ready to see what he had in him and he didn’t disappoint.
Trey Lance Showing Growth and Improvement for the Future
A Quarterback on His Feet
Lance was a dynamic player to watch. Although he made plenty of mistakes, the biggest success he had might have been with his feet instead of his arm.
In the preseason opening game against the LA Rams, Lance managed six carries for 44 yards. His ability to make decisions on when to run with the ball vs. throw were often on point. Decision making under pressure is an irreplaceable skill, one that Lance seems to already have.
Growing this will make him a more versatile QB than both Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush. Prescott was able to collect significant yardage over the past season when rushing, but he isn’t known as a running quarterback. What can make Lance stand out in those clutch times further in the season could be his ability to scramble intelligently.
However, criticism towards Lance will be that the Cowboys don’t want him to just be a good running quarterback. He also needs to have a good arm too.
Lance’s Arm Power Isn’t the Problem
If anything, Lance’s goal needs to be to harness his arm. He’s got the strength to make big plays downfield, however, it’s also his weakness. You’ll notice that on long, vertical routes, Lance often overthrows his target. It happened multiple times in training camp and we witnessed flares of it this first preseason game.
In order to be a gifted quarterback in the way that the Cowboys are interested in using Lance, then he has to learn to not only be powerful, but accurate. All that misplaced strength creates the problem of incomplete passes for his team.
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Lance’s lack of interceptions should be applauded. His arm is a dual-edged weapon, one that could be used for offensive or defensive gain. He has to harness his accuracy over the next few preseason games.
The Third-Year QB Can Make Split Decisions
Along with Lance being able to run outside of the pocket for extra yardage, he also makes good plays under pressure. There were a few times where a rush would nearly cause a sack, yet Lance still met his man.
He scrambled and would throw to the sidelines when necessary. Yes, he did take on 3 sacks, but at the end of the game, the play began to get sloppy for the Cowboys. He wasn’t the only one making mistakes. And the point of preseason is to get those kinds of kinks ironed out and fixed.
How Trey Lance Made the Most of His Game Time
The beginning of the game is where you find a majority of Lance’s incomplete passes. If you compare the first half to the second, a majority of the incompletions made by Lance happened in the first half, when he was just getting comfortable in his position.
However, there’s a lovely drive in the 3rd quarter where Lance is patiently moving the ball down the field, staying in the pocket, and looking smooth. The goal for Lance is to recreate that moment much earlier in the next preseason game against Oakland.
Now the newness should wear off and there should be development and improvement made.
If Lance can take in all of that feedback based on his gameplay, he will improve. Although he’s a three-year NFL veteran, he hasn’t had the opportunity to truly spend time on the field due to injuries. This is his chance. Improvement could mean way more playing time, especially if Prescott’s contract doesn’t see extension.
Time will tell if Lance can reflect on his game before the 2nd preseason game of the season against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Main Photo Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
