Pre-season affair: Broncos v. Cowboys

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We'll always have Super Bowl XII

Tonight marks the first pre-season game for the Dallas Cowboys. I'm pumped. It's football. Professional football played by professional football men. It's back. It's glorious.



Two, I've never had a problem with pre-season games. Why people detest them so much is a mystery. If you don't like them, don't watch them. You're not forced to do anything that you don't deem important.



I think pre-season games are really important. Most of these guys are in shape and know the playbook, but many need to catch up on the speed and voracity of the game. You don't get that in any practices.



Also, it's an opportunity to see guys play their balls off in order to make the team ... or make someone else's squad. You'll never see the second-, third- and fourth-stringers play as hard as they're ever going to play.



By all accounts, the Cowboys starters will not play much tonight. That means three quarters of back-ups and back-up back-ups. Here are some guys looking to make an impression:



Kevin Ogletree

From the rookie spark to the sophomore slump, we've seen two sides of Kevin Ogletree. Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd and any other guy cutting into his snaps are gone. Ogletree is the de facto third receiver, like it or not. For that matter, Titus Ryan, Manny Johnson and others can vie for the fourth receiver spot. Plenty of places to go.



Dan Bailey

Rookie kicker gets the opportunity to kickoff and play in front of the Cowboys faithful. We've heard all the good stuff from training camp. Doing in front of our eyes is a different thing. He can win over a lot of hearts and minds tonight. Same goes for his competition, David Buehler.



Lonyae Miller

Like Bailey, his reputation precedes him. Reports are that Miller's giving Tashard Choice a "run" for his money. Should get the ball plenty tonight.



Sam Young

The placeholder for the bulk of young offensive lineman in back-up roles right now. I'm not even including Tyron Smith, who is starting at right tackle. Young, David Arkin, Bill Nagy and Kevin Kowalski are all looking for opportunities, especially with the left guard spot open and Montrae Holland banged up.



Josh Brent

Story the other day in the local news quoted Brent saying he wants to take another step, become as distruptive as Jay Ratliff. Fact is, the kid's stuck around for his second season. The Cowboys msut see something worthwhile. Let's see if he puts up or shuts up against Denver's third string tonight.

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