Latest twitter mailbag strong showing from rookies

Todd ArcherAug 16, 2015, 12:00 PM ET

OXNARD, Calif. – Part 2 of the Dallas Cowboys’ Twitter mailbag is ready.

In it we discuss:

Rookie class review
La'el Collins
Darrion Weems
Dustin Vaughan
Why sit Tony Romo, Jason Witten, others

If you want to see Part 1, click here.

Away we go:

@toddarcher what made the biggest impression on you from last nights game? #cowboysmail
— Dean Hoyt (@karstenwise21) August 14, 2015

@toddarcher: It was hard not to get excited about the rookie class. Byron Jones was solid, although he needs some work. Randy Gregory had a sack and brought some pressure as a pass-rusher. Damien Wilson took his strong practice work to the field as well. La'el Collins had a strong performance. I liked what Devin Street and Dustin Vaughan, although not rookies, did. I was disappointed in the younger receivers, such as Deontay Greenberry and George Farmer. They had chances to make plays and didn't get it done. People shouldn't get carried away with the results. It should mostly be about individual performances. The Cowboys had more good than bad from players that you had expectations for before the game began.

Time to revisit Collins as a serious threat to Ron Leary? Was beast mode last night. #cowboysmail
— James Falasca (@JamesFalasca) August 14, 2015

@toddarcher: We'll see. There was a lot to like about what Collins did against the Chargers, but you don't erase what has happened in the practices leading up to the games. Ronald Leary has been better. He's done nothing to lose his job. I do wonder if the Cowboys will try to work Collins in more to test him against some of the better defensive linemen not only in practice, but in the next two preseason games. There is this thought too: tackle. He has yet to take a snap there this summer, but perhaps the Cowboys would want to see if he could be a swing tackle option on game day.

@toddarcher After Weems not-so-great performance as Swing OT, Cowboys brass nervous & looking elsewhere or be patient? #CowboysMail
— CowboysYapp (@CowboysYapp) August 14, 2015

@toddarcher: Patience. Bill Parcells hated what he called IEs (instant evaluators). It wasn't the best night for Weems. He gave up a sack. He had a penalty. But it was his first game since 2013 and the first time almost in forever that he played that much, so some slack needs to be cut. He is in the same situation Jermey Parnell was in a few years ago. Weems has been OK in practice with the first team, so like with the Collins' answer, you don't just throw that out. There needs to be patience. Certainly he needs more than just one preseason game.

Will Vaughan get a chance to run a series with the better part of the offensive line that actually protects him? #cowboysmail @toddarcher
— Wild ThornbArry (@BjwalkinRIVERS) August 14, 2015

@toddarcher: Doubtful. But that's the life all third quarterbacks face. They are playing mostly with offensive linemen, running backs and receivers who won't make the club. It's hard for them to succeed all of the time. That's why Vaughan's ability to move around has been impressive. I think you'll see him play most, if not all of the final preseason game and he should have better linemen in front of him than what he had against San Diego. I don't see him challenging Brandon Weeden for the No. 2 job just yet. Vaughan hasn't practiced as well as some would have liked. Now that he has a game under his belt, let's see if his work in practice improves.

@toddarcher #CowboysMail Other QBs and stars who practiced well&aren't injured played: Rodgers/Brady/Rivers/Gates; why not Romo/Witten?
— Ali (@Ali_my_champ) August 14, 2015

@toddarcher: Different coaches have different philosophies. Jason Garrett doesn't want to expose guys like Tony Romo, Jason Witten and the others too much in camp. Others don't mind it. Playing a series or two in the first preseason game will not define the Cowboys, nor will it define the teams that played their stars. Romo, Witten and the guys who were healthy scratches from the game will get enough work to be ready for the Sept. 13 opener against the New York Giants. That matters a lot more than playing 8-10 snaps against San Diego.

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Twitter mailbag: Strong showing from rookies