3 things to watch in Cowboys-Ravens preseason matchup include the battle for backup QB

The Dallas Cowboys may have fallen to the Los Angeles Rams in their first preseason game, but that’s in the rearview mirror now. The joint practice just days before the game certainly impacted who saw action last Saturday, but observers were able to get a glimpse of the preseason process for new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

He chose to throw the ball early and often instead of relying on the running game he had preached for months, because he wanted to get quarterback Joe Milton III some work. When looking for things to watch for when Dallas plays the Baltimore Ravens this Saturday, the actions of the past inform the future.

Can Dallas clean up the penalties?

The Cowboys committed 11 penalties for 83 yards against Los Angeles, including two consecutive plays where Asim Richards was flagged for illegal formation. The coaching staff has to get players to clean up these types of penalties.

There is a difference between a pass interference penalty and a false start or formation penalty; mistakes of aggression are acceptable, mistakes of concentration are not. Self-inflicted mistakes have hurt Dallas over the last few seasons, and the new coaches need to help set a new standard by addressing these issues and cleaning them up.

How much improvement can Joe Milton show?

Milton showcased the holes in his game that led to his fall to the sixth round in the 2024 draft, despite him being a stellar athlete with one of the strongest arms in the league. His touch and ability to read defenses continues to be a work in progress.

Completing 17 of 29 passes for 143 yards with one touchdown and one interception isn’t good enough. Milton must demonstrate he can learn from his poor performance, adjust, and play better against the Ravens. His final drive-plus was encouraging, and leaves something to build on in this next contest.

Can the defense tackle?

Dallas missed 19 tackles in the first preseason game. Nineteen.

The performance forced Schottenheimer to emphasize tackling throughout the week in practice. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has a defense that works best when the unit rallies to the ball and makes tackles quickly. Nothing will bring down his scheme quicker than players missing tackles. A young defense like what Dallas will deploy can be imperfect, but it has to show an ability to step up when challenged.

You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or on YouTube at Across the Cowboys podcast

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: What to watch for when the Cowboys host the Ravens in the preseason